One hundred people are estimated to be missing and nearly 100 bodies have been pulled from a landslide that occurred at a jade mine in the northern Kachin state of Myanmar.
The landslide happened in the early hours of Saturday in Hpakant, where most of the world's finest jade is obtained from. However, the geography of the location is considered hazardous, but a landslide being caused was not expected. Many of the workers, mostly migrants from other parts of the country, work long hours, but for little pay, according to Reuters.
Global New Light of Myanmar, a state-run newspaper, said that the landslide occurred when many of the workers were sleeping in their huts.
Businessman Brang Seng told the Associated Press that most of those who perished were villagers who were sifting through a mountain of waste and rubble. Rows of bodies were pulled from the debris.
"There were more than 70," he said. "This is awfully bad."
Local authorities and service members gathered together in order to carry out rescue operations for those that went missing, USA Today reported.
"Local people are helping to pull the bodies out and also to bring the villagers away from the landslide area," said Mr. Seng Mai. "There has been a huge number of deaths."
Global Witness, a group that investigates the improper use of natural resources, said in a report that the jade mining industry was worth up to $31 billion in 2014 and is controlled by the elites and the government officials linked to the previous ruling regime.
Myanmar recently held a historic election in which Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy crushed the former generals at the polls, in what was mostly a civilian-led government for the first time in the country's history, The Wall Street Journal reported.
However, the old regime still has power over crucial resources, including jade, gems and other minerals.
