1 dead, 23 people rescued after Colorado gold mine incident

One person has died and 23 people have been rescued after a group of people were trapped more than 1,000 feet underground in a Colorado tourist gold mine, according to The Associated Press and the Teller County Sheriff’s Office.

The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, located east of Cripple Creek, Colo., did not collapse , according to the Teller County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred due to what the sheriff described as “an equipment malfunction.”

Eleven people were initially rescued and 12 people were rescued later Thursday night, according to the AP.

Colorado Springs Fire Department said it responded to the incident after receiving a call about it around 1:30 p.m. local time.

“I am relieved that 12 of the people trapped in the Mollie Kathleen Mine have been safely rescued. Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the individual lost in this incident,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement late Thursday.

The authorities said this was the only issue they had to deal with regarding the mine since 1986.

Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine was shut down in the 1960s but has since been utilized for tours.

Updated at 10:42 p.m. EST.

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