Hpakant jade mine disaster
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Hpakant jade mine is located in Myanmar
 Hpakant jade mine
Hpakant jade mine (Myanmar)
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| Date | 22 November 2015 |
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| Location | Hpakant, Kachin State, Myanmar |
| Deaths | 116 |
| Non-fatal injuries | N/A |
| Missing | 100 |
On 22 November 2015, a major landslide in Hpakant, Kachin State, northern Myanmar killed at least 116 people near a jade mine, with around 100 more missing.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Contents
Landslide
The landslide occurred in the early morning hours, when a man-made heap of waste soil mined out of the nearby jade mine collapsed. Many of those killed were people living in a small village near the waste heap, including both miners and others who had scavenged through the waste soil looking for jade remnants to sell. The cause of the collapse is not known.[1][6]
Rescue efforts by the Myanmar Red Cross and other groups have been made to find and recover survivors; one person was pulled from the rubble alive, but subsequently died from their injuries.[1] At least 116 bodies have been reported as having been recovered.[2] Around a hundred people have been reported as missing. The total number of casualties cannot be accurately estimated, as the precise number of people living near the site is not known.[1][2] According to an Hpakant Township General Administration Department official, people had been warned to avoid living near the waste heap because of its potential for landslides.[7]
Investigation
The jade industry in Myanmar generates estimated annual revenues of $31 billion USD.[6] It is presently unclear which companies are responsible for the waste dump, although it is known that prior to the 2015 democratic election, many of these were controlled by the military leadership of the country, leading to questionable safety practices and corruption.[6] Deaths from similar landslides are common, but none of the scale of the Hpakant landslide.[6] A spokesman for the National League for Democracy party said they will investigate the companies and the practices that led to this disaster.[6]
See also
References
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