Landslides kill 13 in northeast Burma's Shan-Palaung region

Nov 14, 2008 -Landslides caused by heavy rains in northern Shan State's Palaung tea growing region killed more than 10 people, at the end of October.

Floods caused by continuous rains also destroyed farmlands and tea plantations, according to non-government organizations.

Lwe Nwe Hnaung, information coordinator of Thailand-based Palaung Women Organisation told DVB 13 tea plantation workers from Pan Yaung, Lwe Mon and Taw Nay villages in Mong Ton township were killed while they were asleep during the night.

"The villagers were sleeping in huts when the landslides occurred, so they had no time to escape," said Lwe Nwe Hnaung.

"Some tea plantations and rice farms were also destroyed by floods caused by the landslides."

She added local villagers have been unable to receive help from the government and the NGOs since they live in very remote areas.

Mai Phone Kyaw, a leader of Palaung Youth Network Group, said hundreds of acres of farms and tea plantations could be destroyed.