A landslide that occurred at an illegal jade mine in Myanmar’s northern Kachin State has claimed the lives of at least 13 people and injured 11 others.
The incident occurred when the wall of the pit in Weikha village in Hpakant collapsed due to heavy rain.
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Reuters quoted National League for Democracy (NLD) Hpakant lawmaker Khin Maung Myint saying that workers were digging illegally in the mine at that time.
As the pit was very deep and unstable, rescue efforts could not be performed properly fearing that another collapse may occur.
A the time of the incident, about 100 workers were working at the abandoned mine.
Local police told the AFP news agency that rescue efforts were hampered by heavy rainfall and poor transport, as well as low-quality communication links to the affected area.
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By GlobalDataEarlier this month, the collapse of a mound of excavated earth at a jade mine in Hpakhan killed at least 13 people.
Xinhua news agency reported that the victims were searching for pieces of jade on the top of the high-mound when the incident took place.
Hpakant is located 651km north of Myanmar’s Naypyidaw and produces quality jade, much of which is exported to China.
