The Burmese military junta has detained four local people collecting information on one of the worst floods of the Uru Hka River and landslides following heavy rain in Hpakant jade mining areas in northern Kachin State on July 4 and 5, said local sources.
 
The four were arrested in Hpakant jade mining city while they were taking notes, photographs and video clips of the devastation in the aftermath of the severe floods and mudslides, said sources close to the detainees. It could not be established whether they were news reporters.
 
The arrested are yet to be identified but they were interrogated and tortured by the military authorities in Hpakant, said relatives of a detainee.
 
According to Christian inspectors on the scene and residents of Hpakant, the authorities have strictly prohibited taking photographs and videos of the flood and landslide affected areas.
 
A resident of Nga-Pyaw-Taw quarter in Hpakant said, they could call from landline telephones during the two days of floods and landslides but the connection was totally cut off on July 7 at about 10 p.m. Burma Standard Time.  People assumed that the authorities had cut off the telephone lines so as to prevent the news of the death and devastation reaching outside Hpakant and Burma, added locals.
 
In Hpakant areas, Kalat Kone, Kala Jaung and Maw One were seriously affected by the floods and mudslides.
 
In the jade mines and villages in Tarmakhan and Nam Maw areas, over 20 miles southwest of Hpakant, many jade miners died in the mudslides from soil dug out from the mines, said sources.
 
Eyewitnesses said they saw several large trucks carrying bodies from the areas in the wake of the floods and landslides.
 
Now, local jade tycoons and local Buddhist and Christian religious organizations are distributing much-needed food and drinking water to hundreds of victims.
 
Some non-governmental organizations like the Holland based AZG (Doctor Without Borders), Metta Development Foundation (MDF) and the World Concern (WC) have reached the flood and landslide affected areas. However, they are not in a position to mount large-scale rescue and relief missions except provide first aid, said sources.
 
The Hpakant public hospital is full of injured people. There are patients suffering from dysentery as well because they were forced to drink dirty water after the floods, said residents of Hpakant.
 
Following the severe floods and mudslides, many migrant jade miners in Hpakant from other parts of the country are going back home, said local sources.
 
Intermittent rains continue in Hpakant but the ruling junta is yet to launch rescue and relief missions for the victims, despite the fact that the regime earns its third highest foreign exchange from the jade mines in Hpakant.