A landslide in northern Myanmar has killed at least 60 people, with about 100 others still missing, a community leader has said.
The natural disaster unfolded near a jade mine in Kachin state on Saturday afternoon.
Scores of people were sifting through a mountain of tailings and waste at the time the landmine struck.
Although the region is home to some of the world’s highest-quality jade – generating billions of pounds a year in revenue – most of this money ends up in the hands of companies and individuals linked to the country’s former military rulers.
Many parts of the country remain desperately poor, and some unofficial miners have been known to risk their lives by digging through the scraps of expansive cave mines.
Last week, it was announced that Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition party has won a majority in Myanmar’s parliament.
Although Ms Suu Kyi – known as The Lady by many – has been barred from becoming president, she has vowed to be the power behind the next leader.
The National League for Democracy now has the task of naming a cabinet, in what will be Myanmar’s first truly civilian government for more than 50 years.
