The rescuers recovered nearly 16 corpses using excavators and ear-moving machines after they were trapped with ground caved in on them. One injured miner died in hospital.
Rescue workers claims that they have retrieved all those trapped in the mine, however, it is said to be unsure of the number of workers gone into the pit.
Commenting on the incident, Municipal chief executive Peter Owusu-Ashia told Reuters that the abandoned mine had attracted many illegal miners despite of repeated efforts by authorities to avoid such activities.
Illegal mining has emerged as an escalating problem for the authorities that have deported nearly 15 illegal Chinese miners earlier in April 2013.
