Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
17 Upstate Salt Miners Rescued After Getting Trapped 900 Feet Underground
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jan 7, 2016
Modified Jan 7, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jan 7, 2016
Modified Jan 7, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
17 workers at a salt mine in central New York were rescued this morning after getting trapped in an elevator more than 800 feet underground. The workers were underground from 10 p.m. Wednesday until about 8:40 a.m. today; thankfully no one was injured.
The incident occurred at the Cargill Salt Mines in Lansing, NY, which is the deepest salt mine in North America. The workers were about 70 stories underground in an elevator when a steel beam that helped operate it broke. Eventually the company dispatched a crane on scene and the miners were carried out in a basket, two or three at a time—the workers were all rescued before 9 a.m. You can watch some of the rescue below:
The workers, all men, range in age from 20 to 60. They were reportedly all in good spirits throughout the ordeal, even though being trapped in an elevator underground for 11 hours can't possibly be fun—emergency crew workers sent them heat packets, blankets, and water, and the mine manager, Shawn Wilczynski, says workers kept it together. "As is typical with them, (they were) joking, sharing stories, having a good time with each other," he told NBC News.
Officials are currently investigating the cause of the elevator breakdown.
Tagged
lansing
mines
salt mine
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
Residents cite sleep disruption and dust-induced illness from nearly ‘round the clock’ construction.
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 24, 2026 at 5:25 p.m. ET
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
Don't be surprised if you run into someone from your building in Beacon.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
News
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
Don't be surprised if you run into someone from your building in Beacon.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
3 slates vying to run Jersey City school board as city stares down major tax hikes
By
Michael Sol Warren
5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases
By
Charles Lane
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .