EPA: Workers At Gold King Mine Were Initially Trapped By Flood

By The Associated Press
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<p>(Courtesy EPA)</p>
<p>This photo from an EPA report shows water from the collapsed Gold King Mine overtaking trucks and heavy equipment before it flows into Cement Creek and the Animas River on Aug. 5, 2015.</p>
Photo: Gold King spill Aug 5 from EPA report
This photo from an EPA report shows water from the collapsed Gold King Mine overtaking trucks and heavy equipment before it flows into Cement Creek and the Animas River on Aug. 5, 2015.

The documents released Thursday by the federal Environmental Protection Agency contained new details on the 3 million-gallon spill on Aug. 5 that fouled downstream rivers in Colorado, Utah and New Mexico.

The EPA is facing increasing political pressure to explain how the accident happened despite prior warnings that it could occur.

The inactive mine is located on a remote mountain at an elevation of 11,000 feet.

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