Narinjara News, 30 January 2023

At least four people, suspected to be Rakhine nationals, died in a landslide that took place near Nam Mawvillage of Hpakant district in KachinState as they were looking for rocks in a jade mining field.

According to the Kachin locals, the incident took place this morning and the victims are Ko Maung MaungMyint, Ko Zaw Myint Naing, Ko Zaw Zaw Aung and Ko Long Gyi.

“At around 9 am on 30 January, an old block of San Shwin company faced the landslide, where the victims weredigging a 4-feet hole,” said a localeyewitness.

They were probably looking for rocks near the landslide prone area. The miners collected the stones in thejade-rich Hpakant area. All fourpeople, who came from Rakhine State, were covered by the earth, he added.

The dead bodies were already sent to Sai Taung (Pe Mu) cemetery.

The death of unwashed stone prospectors, due to the collapse of old blocks of land in Hpakant locality, isthe first reported casualty thisyear.

Otherwise, deadly landslides and other accidents are very common in those mining areas of Hpakant.

The local residents informed that they are still trying to get any Rakhine social organization there tofind out residential addresses of thevictims.