Hpakant : The tragic incident of a jade mine collapse in Myanmar has seen the death toll increase to 33 individuals. Following three days of intense rescue efforts, authorities have recovered the bodies of the victims. The collapse transpired around 3:00 p.m. local time on Sunday near Ma Na Village in Hpakant, a hub of Myanmar’s jade industry. This catastrophe has left over 30 people still unaccounted for.
A police officer in Hpakant reported to Xinhua news agency, “We couldn’t tell the exact number of people who went missing. Locals said 36 people were missing.” The officer acknowledged that these figures could potentially rise as the search operations continue.
Tarlin Mg, a resident in the Hpakant area, informed Xinhua that eight more bodies were discovered on the day of the report, adding to the 25 bodies that had been recovered earlier. This grim update brings the total death toll to 33. As of now, rescue efforts for the day have been concluded and are scheduled to resume on the following day.
The incident has shed light on the hazards faced by workers in Myanmar’s jade industry, which has been marred by accidents due to dangerous mining practices and inadequate safety measures. This tragedy underscores the need for stricter regulations and safety protocols to protect the lives of those working in such hazardous environments.