Nine bodies were retrieved from a phosphate mine which had collapsed in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday.

The mine is situated in Batkanala village, near Tarnawai, some 28 kilometres from Abbottabad.

Since the mine collapse on Wednesday, nine bodies had been recovered and search for others was ongoing. It was feared that 14 mine workers had been buried alive.

According to the sources, Nobody issued NoC to mines in Tarnawai and it was not managed by the mineral department.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the death of workers in a mine collapse in Batkanala village near Abbottabad.