Three illegal miners have reportedly died at Hiawa in the Amanfi West District of the Western region.

The miners died when the pit in which they were working caved in on them.

Crime Officer in charge of Prestea Huni-Valley District ASP Emmanuel Nuirisor told the Ghana News Agency that the deceased were resting on top of the pit during a heavy downpour when it suddenly caved in, trapping them to death.

It took the police about four hours to retrieve the bodies of Kwame Afedzi, 29; Yaw Sarpon, 27, and Yaw Berbako, 35, from the pit.

ASP Nuirisor said the bodies of the deceased have since been retrieved and deposited at the Wassa Akropong government hospital morgue for autopsy.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Mike Hammah, has directed that all excavators used by galamsey operators in the Western Region be confiscated immediately.

That, the minister said, would halt the devastating effects of their operations on the environment and the diversion of water bodies in the region.

He gave the directive when he and some board members of the Minerals Commission paid a surprise visit to some of the illegal mining areas in the Western Region.