It has emerged that one of the injured miners in the Gbane mine blast accident, which has claimed about 16 lives, escaped and ran away while they were being transported from the disaster zone in Talensi to the Upper East Regional hospital.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Patrick Atobrah, told the media during a visit by the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) Thursday that more than nine dead bodies were brought to their facility while 15 persons were on admission, noting one escaped on the way.

About 17 people have reportedly died from inhaling toxic gases from a blast while underground in a mining tunnel close to another mining concession, which is serviced by Chinese company Shaanxi.

Investigations into the matter has begun but there is currently a cold relationship between the Chinese company and small-scale miners, who have been accusing each other of wrongdoing and threatening legal action.

The escaped miner has not been located yet.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, has arrived in Talensi to assess the situation.