"At least 13 killed in Myanmar jade mine landslide," 29 July 2019

At least 13 jade mine workers and security guards in northern Myanmar were killed in a landslide yesterday, said the authorities, as rescuers frantically searched for more victims.

The deadly landslide is the latest to hit Hpakant, the epicentre of a multibillion-dollar jade trade fuelled by insatiable demand in China.

Myanmar's fire services department said in a Facebook post that the accident happened in the early morning in Hpakant township.

"We have taken two injured men and the bodies of 13 men" to a local hospital, the department said. A police officer on the scene said the upper part of a mine collapsed and fell 200m onto those sleeping below.

Though new regulations suspend mining during the wet-season peak from July to September, some workers stay on site. Heavy rain pounded the area over the past week, according to the officer.