Search mission ended in Myanmar jade mining accident

By Kyaw Ye Lynn

YANGON, Myanmar (AA) - Myanmar authority has called the search and rescue mission off for scores of people who went missing after a landslide hit a major jade mining area in the country’s north, officials said on Friday.

A total of 54 staff from two private companies -- most of them were assigned to guard the nearby mining sites -- went missing late Monday when a mud-filter pond in an old mining site collapsed in Hpakant, the northern state of Kachin.

Kyaw Swa Aung, the Hpakant township director, said authorities and volunteers halted the search for the bodies on Friday after two people -- who joined the rescue team -- were killed after buried in the small scale fresh mudslide on Wednesday.

“Only four dead bodies were recovered from the mud as of Thursday,” he told Anadolu Agency by phone.

“As there are possible landslides and mudslides, search for the bodies became risky,” he said.

The official also said that hope for the remaining 50 people, who went missing since late Monday, were fading.

“As they were buried under the mud, the chance is very very low,” Aung added.

Lower House lawmaker Tint Soe, representing Hpakant, confirmed on Friday that search and rescue mission was called off.

“I have not seen anyone searching for the bodies today,” he said over phone.

Soe added that most of the dead bodies are not usually pulled out of the wreckage as the debris or mud buried all living and non-living things whenever an accident happens.

“The companies provide cash compensations to the family members. Then things are done. That’s what happens here,” he complained.

At least 20 people have been killed this year by collapses and landslides at mining sites, according to Hpakant township office.

Most of the victims were identified as internal migrant workers who scavenge jade or pieces of the precious stones left over from the mining operations of companies.

Hpakant is the center of the Myanmar’s jade mining industry and produces some of the best quality jade in the world.