Rescuers have found the bodies of two of three miners that were trapped 900 metres underground after a quake hit the Zofiówka coal mine in Jastrzębie-Zdrój, southern Poland, last week.

Candles were placed in front of the mine in honour of the dead miners. Photo: PAP/Dominik Gajda.

One of the men was found late on Saturday, the other body was later found after water was pumped out of the mine, the mine's operator Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa said in a statement.

Rescuers continue the search for the last miner.

But high levels of methane and groundwater make the rescue mission difficult.

The men were trapped underground when their tunnel collapsed on April 5 after a tremor measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale occurred at around 11 am.

It was the strongest tremor to ever hit the mine, according to Poland's State Mining Authority.

Some 250 miners were underground when the quake hit the mine. Five miners were trapped.

Two of them were brought to the surface on April 6 but both were declared deceased.

The tremor was also felt on the surface in areas far from the mine, according to reports. (vb)

Source: IAR