Aug 5, 2008 (DVB), At least 15 people were killed in a landslide caused by heavy rain in the popular gold and jade mining area of Pha-Kant in Kachin state on 30 July, locals said.

One local resident, speaking on 31 July, said that the number of casualties could rise.

"Fifteen bodies have been recovered as of this morning and there are still a lot of people buried underneath the rubble," he said.

"The landslide happened at around 3pm yesterday afternoon due to the rain and people who were searching for pieces of gold among the garbage near a gold-digging site got caught up in it."

The resident said deaths were common in the vicinity of Pha-Kant due to mine collapses or accidents caused by controlled explosions.

Reporting by Khin Hnin Htet