The facebook post on the fire department's page shows a crane from Auburn arriving on scene to assist at the rescue at Cargill salt mine.
New York:
Rescue workers said today they have freed four of 17 miners trapped in an elevator deep below ground in upstate New York.
The miners, trapped since about 10:00 pm Wednesday (0300 Thursday), have been stuck in a "malfunctioning" elevator 900 feet (274 meters) down an access shaft at the Cargill salt mine in Lansing, New York.
Fire department officials in the nearby city of Ithaca, which has been helping with the rescue, wrote on Facebook that four rescued miners were being examined by medical workers.
"The first 4 miners, of 17 trapped in a shaft at Cargill salt mine, have been brought to the surface! They are being checked by EMS at this time," the Ithaca Fire Department wrote.
Cargill spokesman Mark Klein told AFP that the the elevator simply "stopped and became stuck" while the miners were on their way into the mine to begin their shift, noting that the mine floor is at 2,300 feet (700 meters) and the elevator has safety brakes.
None of the workers has been reported injured, and a crane has been brought on site to remove them from the shaft.
"First shift has already been called off and we will have to investigate and inspect the operation," Klein said.
"We have been in constant contact with the 17," he said adding that the mine employs about 200 workers.
The miners, trapped since about 10:00 pm Wednesday (0300 Thursday), have been stuck in a "malfunctioning" elevator 900 feet (274 meters) down an access shaft at the Cargill salt mine in Lansing, New York.
Fire department officials in the nearby city of Ithaca, which has been helping with the rescue, wrote on Facebook that four rescued miners were being examined by medical workers.
"The first 4 miners, of 17 trapped in a shaft at Cargill salt mine, have been brought to the surface! They are being checked by EMS at this time," the Ithaca Fire Department wrote.
Cargill spokesman Mark Klein told AFP that the the elevator simply "stopped and became stuck" while the miners were on their way into the mine to begin their shift, noting that the mine floor is at 2,300 feet (700 meters) and the elevator has safety brakes.
None of the workers has been reported injured, and a crane has been brought on site to remove them from the shaft.
"First shift has already been called off and we will have to investigate and inspect the operation," Klein said.
"We have been in constant contact with the 17," he said adding that the mine employs about 200 workers.
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