Tourists plummeted hundreds of feet below the earth's surface after an 'equipment malfunction' that has left one person dead, multiple injured, and a dozen people trapped at -1000ft
03:07, 11 Oct 2024Updated 07:18, 11 Oct 2024
Around a dozen people trapped in a defunct US goldmine saw one death after an equipment failure caused a large tour group to get stuck at the bottom of a terrifying 1000ft deep pit in the earth, at around 1.30pm local time.
The large tour group was set to explore the Mollie Kathleen goldmine in Colorado when disaster struck, sending around 12 human souls plummeting hundreds of feet into the earth. But now officials have to figure out how to get them out again, with multiple injured and at least one fatality.
While the Teller County Sheriff's Office has said it has managed to save 11 people from the mine disaster, it confirmed that at least one person has died and "more than" 10 people were still trapped at the bottom of the Colorado goldmine. The rest of those stranded have now been rescued, however officers have revealed the tragedy was "due to an equipment malfunction. The mine did not collapse."
While emergency services figured out how to rescue the large tour group, it is still unclear what caused the "equipment malfunction." However, initial reports from local media suggest that the elevator that takes tourists down the Mollie Kathleen Mine was responsible for the tragedy, which took place 300ft below the earth.
County Sheriff Jason Mikesell confirmed that one person was dead and four injured late on Thursday night.
In an earlier statement Mikesell went on to say that the operation would now attempt to figure out if the elevator can be made safe to bring the tour group. believed to be a dozen people including children, back to the surface. If this cannot be done, the Teller County Sheriff said rescuers would be forced to rope down into the pit to pull people out.
Amid the rescue operation, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said he is directing state resources "to assist Teller County authorities with the ongoing Mollie Kathleen Mine rescue efforts.
"The state is assisting Teller County and sending resources to rescue those inside the mine. We will do everything possible and assist the county to ensure a speedy and safe resolution of the situation."
The long defunct gold mine closed in the 1960s, but was reopened to hold tours of the historic 1000ft shaft. The funds from these tours is said to go towards maintaining safety on the site containing the mine, per local news.
On its website, the Mollie Kathleen Mine advertises itself as the US' "only vertical shaft gold mine tour." Enthusiasts are offered the chance to "witness the evolution of underground mining, view gold veins in their natural state, ride an underground tram air locomotive" as well as "experience the sights and sounds of mining equipment. "
The final tour of the season for the popular gold mine was due to take place on Sunday.