World

Myanmar jade mine landslide kills 113

At least 113 bodies were found, while several others were reported missing after a landslide hit a jade mining site in Myanmar’s Kachin state, officials said

Photo courtesy- Twitter
Photo courtesy- Twitter 

At least 113 bodies were found on Thursday, while several others were reported missing after a landslide hit a jade mining site in Myanmar's Kachin state, officials said.

"A more than 304 metre-high cliff collapsed, burying those collecting stones," Xinhua news agency quoted a rescue worker at the scene as saying.

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Caused by the monsoon rains, the landslide occurred at the site in Sate Mu village tract of Hpakant township at 8 a.m., according to the Fire Services Department.

Rescue work is continuing for people still missing at the site.

Deadly landslides are frequent in Kachin state, known as land of jade.

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Many local people make living by jade scavenging in the region and most of the landslides are caused by partial collapse of tailings heaps and dams.

A major landslide, which occurred in the region in November 2015, left at least 116 jade scavengers dead.

Myanmar is the world's biggest source of jade, said a BBC report.

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The country's jade trade is reported to be worth more than $30 billion a year. Hpakant is the site of the world's biggest jade mine.

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