It was earlier believed that at least five miners were still trapped underground. The Mara Regional Commissioner, Dr Charles Mlingwa, told reporters that rescue efforts were still going on.
Two bodies of miners were recovered yesterday by a rescue team after a goldmine collapsed in Buhemba, Butiama District at about 9 am on Monday.
He, however, said there was no communication between the rescue team and the trapped miners.
He explained that after the collapse of the mine, the relevant authorities in collaboration with small miners, tried to get the victims out and their efforts resulted in the rescue of 13. Four of them were in critical condition, he said.
Dr Mlingwa said the miners who were rescued said five of their colleagues were still underground, but it was difficult to get them out as the three man entrances were blocked by rocks that fell when the goldmine collapsed.
The pit was also waterlogged since the water infrastructure that had been used to pump it out of the pit had also been destroyed.
