Close to 48 hours after the collapse of an illegal mining pit in Prestea-Nsuta in the Western Region, 14 out of the 19 small-scale miners that were trapped are yet to be rescued from the over 80 feet deep pit.

Five of the illegal miners that were trapped managed to escape by their own efforts.

District Police commander for Nsuta, Superintendent Atsu Dzineku, told Joy News rescue efforts are still ongoing.

“We assume that are all alive and dead...the galamsey boys are assisting the police. They are there because they know the area. They are in the pit,” he said.

Sunday’s collapse is the latest in many mining disasters that have been recorded in the past.

Read: 14 trapped in Nsuta mining pit; rescue mission underway

The disaster comes at a time when the government is waging war on illegal mining across the country.

A number of arrests have been made and excavators owned by the galamsey miners have been seized by the government taskforce set up to fight illegal mining.

The Nsuta pit collapse will provide extra motivation for the country to fight and possibly end the illegal mining activities which have destroyed the country's environment and water bodies.

Best FM’s Kojo Fletcher told Joy News Tuesday morning that one of the five persons who escaped, Ibrahim Musah, “was too gripped with fear” and could not speak.