Miners Rescued From Trapped Elevator in NY Salt Mine

— -- Emergency crews have rescued 17 miners who became trapped in an elevator that stopped working at the Cargill Salt Mine in Lansing, New York, according to Tompkins County officials.

The miners became trapped in an elevator shaft Wednesday night. They were reportedly 800 to 900 feet below ground.

Officials said the miners were not injured. Emergency crews and the miners had been in contact via radio transmissions.

Teams from the Lansing Fire Department, Ithaca Fire Department and others assisted in the rescue.

"At 11:40 p.m. Wednesday an emergency call came in to the Tompkins County 911 Center, reporting 17 mine employees stuck in an elevator below ground. Efforts are focused on ensuring the integrity of the system and putting in place procedures to evacuate the people from the elevator," according to a statement from Tompkins County Emergency Management.

The miners were given heat packs and blankets to keep warm during the operation.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today he is ordering a team of state inspectors from the Office of Emergency Management, Office of Fire Protection and the Department of Labor’s Division of Safety and Health to do a full investigation.

"The health and safety of New York's workforce is paramount and every step will be taken to ensure this incident is not repeated in the future, and anyone potentially at fault is held accountable," he said in a statement.