Phakant, 1 July

Two jade scavengers were found dead in a landslide collapse at a jade mine in Phakant Township, Kachin State on 29 June.

The 12 ft. high slag heap collapsed at a jade mine which belongs to the Jade Power Mining Company near Hmawsisar Village in Phakant Township at around 4:30 p.m. on 29 June when two men identified as Naing Naing Tun, 20 years of age from and Zaw One, 61 years of age were scavenging in the jade mine. Employees from the Jade Power Mining Company and other jade scavengers attempted to rescue the men but they went missing in the incident.

Local firefighters, mining company’s staff and jade scavengers continued search and rescue operations for the missing men who were found dead at around 5:30 p.m. The corpse was transferred to a public hospital in Phakant by a vehicle from a local social organization. A probe has been ordered to investigate into the case, according to the local police station.—Moe Kya (Myitkyina)

Translated by Kyaw Htike Soe