Twenty-two people trapped in the Prestea-Nsuta mining pit disaster have been declared dead.

On Friday 7 July, the chiefs and traditional leaders, together with families and townsfolk organised a mass burial service for the deceased.

The pit collapsed on Sunday 2 July.

A rescue team had been working since then but that came to a halt following torrential rains on Wednesday.

On Thursday 6 July, government ordered the closure of the pit and declared the illegal miners trapped under the earth dead.

The pits have since been covered.