Emergency responders have been making an attempt to restore the elevator to convey again the 11 vacationers and one tour information who have been trapped beginning round noon (1800 GMT), Mikesell mentioned.
With one tour group under floor, the elevator skilled some sort of mechanical failure with one other group aboard whereas it was about midway down the mine shaft. This resulted in a single fatality whereas 4 different individuals suffered minor accidents, Mikesell mentioned with out offering particulars of how the particular person died.
That group was in a position to return to the floor on the elevator, which has since been out of fee, the sheriff mentioned.
Responders had radio communication with the individuals trapped under, they usually had water, blankets and chairs to maintain them comfy, Mikesell mentioned.
However they weren’t informed that somebody died, solely that there was an issue with the elevator, the sheriff mentioned.
Engineers from the state, mine security specialists and firefighters have been available.
Within the occasion the elevator can’t be safely repaired, firefighters have been getting ready for a rescue operation, however utilizing the elevator could be a lot safer, Mikesell mentioned.
“If we’ve got to, we are able to convey individuals up on these ropes, nevertheless it additionally topics these first responders now to the menace and endangerment of doing so,” Mikesell mentioned.
A household enterprise has been working excursions on the mine, which is about 110 miles (180 km) south of Denver, for 50 years, with just one earlier, unspecified security incident in 1986, Mikesell mentioned.
(By Daniel Trotta; Modifying by Chris Reese and Cynthia Osterman)