PURPOSE: To rescue passengers out of both an upper car and a lower car to a landing without confining them in the cars, when a trouble occurs in a double deck elevator.

CONSTITUTION: When a serious trouble is detected by a trouble detecting circuit 15 and a serious trouble detected signal 15a is output a running control circuit 23 stops a motor 14 through a speed control circuit 17 and a driving circuit 19, so as to being cars 1, 2 to a sudden stop. Thereafter, the cars 1, 2 are run for rescue to the nearest floor at a slow speed, and the door of the car of which the door can be opened on the floor, for example the upper car 1, is opened so as to rescue the passengers. After completing the rescue, the cars 1, 2 are run again to a floor where the door of the lower car 2 can be opened.