MARTIN COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — One person has died following a building collapsed at an abandoned mine site in Kentucky, according to Martin County Judge Executive Dr. Lon Lafferty.
According to Kentucky Emergency Management, the 11-story building near Middlefork Wolfe Creek Road in Martin County collapsed around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Two workers were trapped underneath multiple floors of concrete and steel, and several teams are working to rescue them.
Dr. Lafferty says one of the workers died, and rescue crews are still trying to locate the second worker.
"We haven't given up hope on the second worker," he said.
Officials say next of kin have been notified for the workers involved. Authorities say the building was in the process of being demolished at the time.
Gov. Beshear also signed an executive order to mobilize state resources to the area.
Several agencies are on scene assisting, including the Lexington Fire Department Special Operations Unit. The Lexington Fire Department says eight people were deployed to Martin County, all of which are structural collapse specialists. They are on scene assisting with the search and rescue efforts.
Officials say a press conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. to provide mission updates from overnight and future plans.
