New accident strikes Myanmar's jade-mining region

YANGON, Myanmar – There has been a fatal landslide near a jade mine in northern Myanmar, the fourth accident of its type in less than two months.

The Information Ministry said a mining company employee in Hpakant was killed Tuesday night when a 300-foot (91-meter) -high mountain of earth and mine waste collapsed on him. Other accounts said at least four people were killed, although local police said they did not know of the accident.

At least 113 people were killed in November when a landslide buried their makeshift dwellings at the foot of another nearby waste mountain. Many were scavengers who go through the waste looking for discarded jade.

There were two other fatal accidents in November and December.