After a landslide in a Mining area in Burma, the number of dead has risen to at least 166. The fire Department reported on Facebook. In the accident on Thursday, workers were looking for in a slag heap from the local Jade mines for the precious green stones, as they were buried by the mud masses. The strong monsoon rains had triggered the landslide, makes it difficult to work according to the authorities, information is now also the salvage. At least 70 people have so far can be injured out of the mud, rescued, said a member of Parliament of the ill-town of Hpakant.
meanwhile, the authorities were far more than 200 deaths, as dozens were unaccounted for for more people still. Half of the deaths had not yet been identified. Unusually heavy rains had triggered Floods and mudslides on Thursday.
The army of Burma is one of the world’s largest supplier of green jewelry stones, especially in China popular. From the Region of the accident site in the North of the country, the majority of them. The industry is hardly regulated at all, fatal accidents happen repeatedly.In the mines, toil in low-paid workers, including many migrants. Hang live in deplorable conditions on the mountain and often also on good luck to Jade. The accident on Thursday, the worst for over five years.
human rights activists accuse the Jade-business companies involved and the government, to have the protection for the workers failed. “The government has ignored the continued illegal and rapacious mining practices in Hpakant, although they had promised to reform the dangerous sector,” said the raw materials in conflict specialized organization “Global Witness”. The Multi-billion Dollar business dominated by powerful, with Burma’s military-related companies, their cronies and armed groups. In 2014 alone, the value of the mined Jade was therefore up to 31 billion American dollars.
