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| Myanmar jade mine landslide kills 120 | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| At least 126 bodies have been found after a landslide at a jade mining site in northern Myanmar, officials say. | |
| Rescue work is continuing for people still missing at the site in the Hpakant area of Kachin state. | Rescue work is continuing for people still missing at the site in the Hpakant area of Kachin state. |
| A wave of mud and rock triggered by heavy rain engulfed those collecting stones, the fire service said. | |
| Myanmar is the world's biggest source of jade but its mines have seen numerous accidents, many involving people who scavenge for stones. | Myanmar is the world's biggest source of jade but its mines have seen numerous accidents, many involving people who scavenge for stones. |
| The country's fire service department said in a Facebook post: "The jade miners were smothered by a wave of mud, which hit after heavy rainfall." | The country's fire service department said in a Facebook post: "The jade miners were smothered by a wave of mud, which hit after heavy rainfall." |
| Police said some people had defied a warning issued on Wednesday not to work in the area after the rainfall, although the advice may also have saved many lives. | Police said some people had defied a warning issued on Wednesday not to work in the area after the rainfall, although the advice may also have saved many lives. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says video of the incident shows a massive landslide pouring into a large flooded pit. The sides then collapse sending water surging into the valley below. | The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says video of the incident shows a massive landslide pouring into a large flooded pit. The sides then collapse sending water surging into the valley below. |
| Fire service department images showed rescuers carrying away bodies wrapped in tarpaulins. | Fire service department images showed rescuers carrying away bodies wrapped in tarpaulins. |
| Maung Khaing, a 38-year-old miner, told Reuters he saw a towering pile of waste close to collapse and people were shouting "run, run". | Maung Khaing, a 38-year-old miner, told Reuters he saw a towering pile of waste close to collapse and people were shouting "run, run". |
| He said: "Within a minute, all the people at the bottom [of the hill] just disappeared. I feel empty in my heart... There were people stuck in the mud shouting for help but no-one could help them." | He said: "Within a minute, all the people at the bottom [of the hill] just disappeared. I feel empty in my heart... There were people stuck in the mud shouting for help but no-one could help them." |
| Hundreds of people gather at mines to sift through rubble discarded from lorries, hoping to find jade stones. | Hundreds of people gather at mines to sift through rubble discarded from lorries, hoping to find jade stones. |
| The rubble creates large slopes that can be dangerous in an area denuded of trees and resembling a moonscape. | The rubble creates large slopes that can be dangerous in an area denuded of trees and resembling a moonscape. |
| More than 100 people died last year alone at mining sites. | More than 100 people died last year alone at mining sites. |
| Myanmar's jade trade is reported to be worth more than $30bn (£24bn) a year. Hpakant is the site of the world's biggest jade mine. | Myanmar's jade trade is reported to be worth more than $30bn (£24bn) a year. Hpakant is the site of the world's biggest jade mine. |
| Our correspondent says a new gemstone mining law was passed last year, but critics say the government has too few inspectors with only limited authority to stop illegal practices. | Our correspondent says a new gemstone mining law was passed last year, but critics say the government has too few inspectors with only limited authority to stop illegal practices. |
| A landslide at a jade mine in Kachin in 2015 killed at least 90 people. | A landslide at a jade mine in Kachin in 2015 killed at least 90 people. |