The bodies of 23 victims of a landslide in Myanmar’s northern jade mining area have been recovered, an official confirmed on Monday (Jul 30), after a days-long search hampered by heavy monsoon rains. Landslides have killed dozens this year around treacherous jade mines in Myanmar’s northern Kachin state. (Photo: AFP/Ye Aung Thu) Rescuers are still looking for a further four victims, many of whom belong to the small ethnic Rawang minority in the remote area of Kachin state, the heart of the country’s notoriously shadowy multi-billion-dollar jade industry. “We found 23 dead bodies by yesterday (Sunday) evening and we will try to find the remaining four if the weather is good today,” an official from Hpakant’s local government told AFP, requesting anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media. Landslides have killed dozens this year around the treacherous jade mines where impoverished locals comb deep gouges in the ground for pieces of the semi-precious gemstone. This latest disaster in Set Mu sub-township hit the small Rawang ethnic group particularly hard. The mainly-Christian community number only about 70,000 people and are one of Myanmar’s smallest ethnicities. “Funerals have been held by their respective families. This time our local villages have really been hurt badly,” said Shwe Thein, a local resident helping with recovery operations. Much of the world’s top-quality jade comes from Kachin state but most is smuggled over the border to feed the insatiable demand in China. It is big business for those at the top -… [Read full story]
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