4 Rakhine nationals died in Kachin due to landslide in jade mine area

Narinjara News, 30 January 2023

At least four people, suspected to be Rakhine nationals, died in a landslide that took place near Nam Maw village of Hpakant district in Kachin State 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 Maung Myint, 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 were digging a 4-feet hole,” said a local eyewitness.

They were probably looking for rocks near the landslide prone area. The miners collected the stones in the jade-rich Hpakant area. All four people, 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, is the first reported casualty this year.

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 to find out residential addresses of the victims.