Deadly Jade Mine Landslide Leaves Dozens Missing in Myanmar
A massive landslide ripped through a jade mine in Hpakant, northern Myanmar, on Sunday, swallowing scores of miners and sparking a desperate rescue mission. The remote area is home to the world’s largest and most valuable jade deposits, making the disaster even more tragic.
Over 30 Miners Swept Into Lake After Cliff Collapse
The catastrophe struck near Manna village at around 3:30pm local time. A giant mass of earth and debris from several mines tumbled roughly 1,000 feet down a cliff, crashing into a nearby lake and engulfing miners at work.
“More than 30 miners were swept into the lake,” revealed a local rescue leader, speaking anonymously over fears of official backlash. So far, 34 people remain missing, while eight injured workers are being treated in hospital.
Hundreds Rushed to Scene in Race to Find Survivors
Over 100 rescue workers have flooded the site to comb through the wreckage. Despite tough conditions, they are keeping the search going. This horrific event highlights the deadly risks faced by miners, especially those working on isolated, unstable ground.
Jade Mining’s Dark Side: A Risky Business for Profit and Power
Jade mining bankrolls both Myanmar’s military-installed government and the Kachin Independence Army, an armed ethnic group relying heavily on the trade. Dangerous working conditions have long made fatal incidents common. Similar landslides devastated the area in July 2020 and November 2015, killing many.
The latest tragedy has shone a harsh light on the urgent need for better safety protocols and more support for vulnerable mining communities in Myanmar’s hazardous jade fields.
