At least 80 miners have been trapped in a collapsed gold mine in central Ghana, with rescuers fearing that many may have already died.

Around 100 miners fled the mine in the town of Dunkwa-on-Offin after it flooded, escaping to an adjoining mine pit.

The second mine pit then caved in, trapping the miners.

Municipality chief Peter Owusu-Ashia said rescue operations are being hampered by flooding in the mine from an earlier downpour but that extra excavators and a water pump are being brought in.

The pit was an abandoned mine and the miners were working in informal groups of around five men each when the accident took place.