1 worker dies, another still trapped in ‘abandoned’ mine on Wolf Creek in Martin Co.

MARTIN COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ)

11/1/23, 4:30 p.m.

Officials say they’re using cameras, listening devices and dogs to search for the second man.

Meanwhile, a warming station and staging area have been opened at Buck Branch United Baptist Church in Pilgrim for the families and first responders.

The Lexington Fire Department’s Special Operations Unit was also sent to the site to offer support with search and rescue efforts. Capt. Chris Rudd says eight crew members left overnight. Six of those are collapse specialists, and two are special operations.

“The areas that they train are specialized in different disciplines, and collapse specialists is one of the areas that we have people trained in,” he told ABC 36.

“Having the ability to regional partners and mutual aid is absolutely necessary in the area we live in. It’s not a state that is densely with urban city after urban city. So not everyone in the state has those resources,” he added.

11/1/23, 10:18 a.m.

One of the trapped workers has died, Beshear confirmed in a post on X.

11/1/23, 9:29 a.m.

Search efforts are underway after two workers were trapped in an abandoned mine in Eastern Kentucky Tuesday night.

The two workers are reportedly trapped under 11 floors of concrete and steel.

They were working at the tall coal sorting structure at Martin Mine Prep Plant in Martin County, which is about two and a half hours east of Fayette County, when the building collapsed around 6:30 p.m., according to Martin County Fiscal Court Judge Lon Lafferty.

Communication with one of the trapped workers was established but not the other.

Around 3 a.m., rescuers were in need of additional resources, Lafferty said.

Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Martin County so state resources could be utilized.

Beshear asked that Kentuckians continue praying but to “be prepared for tough news.”

Many agencies are assisting, including the Lexington Fire Department Special Operations Unit, the National Guard’s Special Tactics Squadron K-9 search dog, Jefferson County Urban Search and Rescue, the Northern Kentucky Technical Rescue Team and more.

No other information was available as of publishing time.

This is a developing story. Stick with ABC 36 for updates