A massive pile of earth about 150m to 180m high – left behind by mining excavations – was loosened by the intense rainfall and collapsed, according to rescuers.
The rainy season had forced the suspension of mine operations but those caught in the landslide are believed to be locals who were trying to find something valuable in the mud.
Myanmar is the world’s biggest source of jade and in 2020 nearly 300 people lost their lives in a massive landslide at a Hpakant mine.
Jade and other abundant natural resources in Myanmar’s north – including timber, gold and amber – have helped finance both sides of a decades-long civil war between ethnic Kachin insurgents and the military.
While environmentalists and rights groups have long called for reforms, a 2021 military coup effectively ended hopes for better standards in the industry, according to international watchdogs.
After the putsch, monitoring group Global Witness urged a consumer boycott of jade and gemstones from Myanmar, warning the industry could become a “slush fund” for military repression.
More than 3,900 civilians have been killed since the coup, according to a local monitoring group.
Source: CNA
