Myanmar Landslide: Death toll crosses 160

In the latest development, a landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar has killed at least 160 people, officials said on Thursday, warning the death toll is likely to rise further.

Earlier today, the death count stood at 50 and 54 are wounded.

The incident took place in the jade-rich Hpakant area of Kachin state after a bout of heavy rainfall, the Myanmar Fire Services Department said on Facebook.

"The jade miners were smothered by a wave of mud," the statement said. "A total of 113 bodies have been found so far," it added, raising the death toll from at least 50.

Tar Lin Maung, a local official with the information ministry, said authorities had recovered more than 100 bodies. "Other bodies are in the mud. The numbers are going to rise," he told Reuters.

Fatal landslides are common in the poorly regulated mines of Hpakant, the victims often from underprivileged communities who risk their lives hunting the green gemstone.