The authorities have recovered the bodies of the male victims, aged between 15 and 35, following the accident in the province of Nghe An on Sunday, according to news website VNExpress.

Deadly accidents are not uncommon at illegal or private mines in the communist country, where labour and safety regulations are often disregarded.

Last month 18 people were killed in a massive rockslide at a quarry in the same province.

Agence France Presse - May 2, 2011