The elevator was descending into the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near the town of Cripple Creek, and the twelve who were rescued were about 1,000 feet below ground.

One person was killed and 12 people were rescued after being trapped for about six hours at the bottom of a former Colorado gold mine when an elevator malfunctioned at the tourist site, authorities said.

The elevator was descending into the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near the town of Cripple Creek when it had a mechanical problem around 500 feet (152 meters) beneath the surface, creating a “severe danger for the participants,” Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said.

The 12 adults who were trapped about 1,000 feet (305 meters) below ground had access to water and used radios to communicate with authorities, who told them there was an elevator issue, Mikesell said.

  • vxx@lemmy.world
    3·
    24 days ago

    We’re talking about an old elevator in a mineshaft, not some fancy hotel elevator.

    I wouldn’t call it modern.

    Edit: That rusty orange box on a hook is the elevator

    Nothing would get me into this thing, and I’m not even claustrophobic. It just looks unsafe.