HARBIN - The bodies of two more miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province over two weeks ago have been recovered, bringing the death toll to three, said rescuers Thursday.

Rescuers are still searching for the last miner trapped in the Hengtai Coal Mine, located in Boli County in the city of Qitaihe, said a spokesperson with the local rescue headquarters.

The mine flooded around noon on August 23 after miners mistakenly drilled into a neighboring flooded mine, trapping 26 miners.

To date, 22 miners have been pulled from the mine alive and the body of the first deceased miner was retrieved five days after the accident occurred.

The Hengtai Coal Mine is one of many that had been operating illegally in recent years, despite the government's efforts to shut down small, outdated mines.

The provincial government previously ordered the mine to stop production in 2007. However, the owner restarted production without permission on August 16, according to the local work safety bureau.