At Least 172 Dead in Myanmar 'Okkwangsan Landslide'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The death toll from a landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar has reached at least 172, marking it as one of the worst disasters in Myanmar's history.

According to foreign media on the 4th, the number of fatalities from the accident caused by heavy rain triggering a landslide at a jade mine in Hpakant, Kachin State, northern Myanmar, on the 2nd (local time) has risen to at least 172.

The previous death toll was reported as at least 162. The increase in fatalities is attributed to the discovery of bodies buried under the landslide debris.

This disaster has already surpassed the minimum death toll of 113 from a jade mine landslide in the same area in November 2015.

Myanmar is the world's largest jade producer, but frequent large-scale casualties continue to occur due to poor working conditions at companies and inadequate safety measures by authorities.

Similar accidents have frequently occurred in the Hpakant area where this incident took place. Last year, more than 50 miners who were sleeping died when a landslide struck, and a total of 93 people died and 14 were injured in 19 landslides.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.