Hpakant, 28 July

A landslide killed at least 18 people including three policemen in Phakant Township, Kachin State today, with two others injured, according to a source from the township police force.

The incident occurred at a jade mine operated by Yaza Htarni Jade Mining Company near Kayin Chaung Village in Phakant Township after a slag heap collapsed. 15 employees from the jade mining company and three policemen who are providing security in the jade mine were killed and two policemen injured in the incident. The injured people were taken to a nearby hospital in Hpakant.

Policemen, firefighters, local authorities and social organization members rushed to the scene and carried out rescue operations. The death toll is expected to increase because the search operation for the missing people is ongoing.—Win Naing

Translated by Kyaw Htike Soe