Rescuers have found 14 bodies of 17 missing villagers in a gold mine dam collapse two weeks ago which buried their homes in northwestern Shaanxi Province.

Chinese rescuers pump water to rescue trapped miners from a collapsed iron mine in Anqing, central China's Anhui province May 14, 2008. The tradedy occurred early saturday when miners were working 420 feet underground when rocks, dust and water poured into the shaft, cutting off their escape and ventilation, according to a Xinhua report. It is not immediately known whether they are alive or not. [Xinhua]

The search for three other missing villagers will continue, butthe hope for their survival is slim, said local officials.

The dam for waste ore collapsed at 6:40 p.m. on April 30 at a gold mine in Zhen'an County. The flood of waste buried about 40 rooms of nine families, leaving 17 people missing and five injured.

The Zhen'an County Gold Mining Co. Ltd., owner of the mine, is alleged to have raised the dam without official authorization.

Families of all the 17 villagers have signed compensation agreement with the company, according to which they can acquire about 130,000 yuan (about 16,250 U.S. dollars) for a dead family member.