Sixteen Bodies Retrieved From Tanzanian Mine

Rescuers working to find trapped miners at a tanzanite pit in Tanzania have retrieved ten more bodies, taking the total number to 16 since rescue attempts begun on Saturday.

"So far we have recovered 16 bodies. We are continuing with the operation to look for more bodies," police commissioner Venance Tossi told AFP.

Mine owners have ruled out finding any survivors at the concession which is located in Minerani, at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro.

According to state radio, 93 people close to the surface escaped the flooding at the pit last week, while other accounts say the number is closer to 35.

By staff writer