More than 50 people missing following landslide in Hpakant jade mine on April 23, 2019

Locals say that because of the depth of the mud, they don’t think the victims will be found.

Fifty-four workers are thought to be buried following the collapse of a mud pool in a jade mine in Hpakant Township, Kachin State on Tuesday morning.

According to village administrators in the community of Maw Wan Kalay, near where the landslide occurred, 10 backhoes and 10 vehicles are also missing.

“It's difficult to search for victims in the mud because the mud pool is too deep. Authorities and volunteer groups have been trying to search for these victims since this morning,” a member of the village’s administrative staff told KNG on Tuesday. “Until now, nothing has been discovered.”

Since the accident occurred during official working hours, the staff member said that those missing were likely official workers for the mining company, the Kachin National Development Company.

Another local, who spoke to KNG on the condition of anonymity, blamed the landslide on “the carelessness of the company.”

“The old jade mining block is full of water. They need to pump the water out of the block before they work. Instead of pumping the water out, they throw soil and stones on it. Then it becomes a mud pool,” he said, adding, “I don’t think the victims underneath will be found.”