TELLER COUNTY – More than 10 people are trapped at a depth of 1,000 feet and 11 others have been rescued after an equipment malfunction at the Mollie Kathleen gold mine, according to the Teller County Sheriff's Office.

News5 multimedia journalist Piper Vaughn

The mine is located east of Cripple Creek.

According to the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD), they are also responding to this incident. They say they received the call around 1:30 p.m

News5 multimedia journalist Piper Vaughn

According to the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour website, the mine closed in the 1960s, however mine tours were doing well at the time and so it was decided to continue the tours.

Revenue from the tours is used to maintain the mine and ensure it is in a “safe, operational mining condition,” the website says. Depending on the season, one-hour hiking tours are offered.

Tours are open from May to the second weekend in October. It is not clear whether the people trapped were on a tour.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis released the following statement regarding the incident:

This is a developing story. A News5 team is on scene and will update this web story as we learn more.

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