Scores terrified dead after landslide at Myanmar jade mine

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A landslide of dirt and rubble ripped down the waste heap of a Myanmar jade mine, sweeping workers searching for fragments of the gems into a lake and burying them under the debris, killing at least one person and leaving scores missing.

After Wednesday’s accident, throngs of their families stood on bare, muddy banks on the lake’s shores as rescue workers in hard hats and hi- vis jackets searched the water in boats, according to photos posted by the fire department on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB).

Before rescue operations were called off as night fell, one body had been recovered from the scene, and around 50 people still unaccounted for had most likely died, according to a fire department official on the scene.

“It is so difficult to estimate how many were missing, but we estimate at least 50 missing and they have very little chance of survival,” said Pyae Nyein, captain of Hpakant Township’s fire department.

Story by : Norvisi Mawunyegah