At least 16 people have died -- among them gold miners -- in landslides caused by heavy rain in eastern Myanmar, a Red Cross official said today, adding rescuers have been hampered by poor roads.
Relief teams were battling to reach two villages hit by the landslips near Kalaw township in southern Shan State after days of severe rain, according to Kyaw San Win, disaster management officer for Myanmar's Red Cross.
"Sixteen people died so far... There might be some people injured. We don't know yet," he said, citing figures from local authorities.
"There was very heavy rain for a couple of days. I think it caused landslides," he said, adding it was not clear exactly when the victims died but most of them were gold mine workers.
