Emergency teams are working to rescue 13 salt mine workers who remain trapped in a lift 900 feet below ground in New York state.
Rescuers are said to be on the scene with mine officials claiming they have been able to free four miners.
The are in communication with the other miners, who are not believed to be in any immediate danger.
Tompkins County Emergency Management officials said the miners have been trapped since 11:40pm last night at the Cargill Salt Mine in Lansing - about 40 miles outside Syracuse in central New York state.
As well as communicating with the miners, ahtorities have also managed to provide them with blankets, heat packs, and other supplies, Reuters reported.
The Ithaca branch of the New York Fire Department said a crane from nearby Auburn has arrived at the scene to help with the rescue.
Cargill's website says the mine, which lies just north of Ithaca, has been in operation since 1922. It annually processes about two million tons of road salt that is shipped throughout north-east US.
A statement from Tompkins County Emergency Management said, “Efforts are focused on ensuring the integrity of the system and putting in place procedures to evacuate the people from the elevator.”
