One dead, 10 missing after fresh Hpakant landslide

One dead, 10 missing after fresh Hpakant landslide



YANGON: -- At least one jade miner has been killed and locals believe that 10 prospectors are still missing after a landslide in Kachin State’s Hpakant Township, The Irrawaddy reported.

A mountain of mine waste in La Mong Kone village collapsed on Monday while prospectors were searching for jade residue. The latest incident occurred just a few kilometers away from a landslide which last month killed at least 114 prospectors.

A local police officer said the landslide moved slowly, allowing most people working on the waste pile to have time to run for their lives. He added that it would be difficult to retrieve to body of the miner.

Witnesses said at least as many as 10 miners were still missing.

Khin Maung, a propector, said about twenty people were searching for jade residues on that waste pile, which slowly slid down. Some people managed to escape, but some did not, he said.

Deadly landslides are common among the jade mines in Hpakant. Following last month’s tragedy, lawmakers have called on the government to address longstanding safety concerns. No decisions on safety measures have yet been made by the Ministry of Mines.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/one-dead-10-missing-after-fresh-hpakant-landslide


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-16