One dead, at least 70 missing after landslide at Myanmar jade mine: Rescue team

YANGON: At least 70 people were missing and one confirmed dead on Wednesday following a landslide at a

jade mine

in northern Myanmar, a member of the rescue team told AFP.

"About 70-100 people are missing in a landslide that happened around 4:00 am" at

Hpakant mine in Kachin state

, said rescue team member

Ko Nyi

.

"We've sent 25 injured people to hospital while we've found one dead."

Around 200 rescuers were searching to recover bodies, and some were using boats to search for the dead in a nearby lake, he added.

Dozens die each year while working in Myanmar's highly lucrative but poorly regulated jade industry, which uses low-paid migrant workers to scrape out a gem highly coveted in neighbouring China.

The fight to control the mines and the revenues frequently traps local civilians in the middle, with a rampant drug and arms trade further curdling the conflict.

Last year heavy rainfall triggered a massive landslide in Hpakant the heart of Myanmar's jade trade in northern Kachin state that entombed nearly 300 miners.

A February military coup also effectively extinguished any chance of reforms to the dangerous and unregulated industry started by ousted leader

Aung San Suu

Kyi's government, watchdog

Global Witness

said in a report this year.


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