At least five people were killed and around 15 remain missing after a landslide struck a disused jade mine in northern Myanmar. Heavy monsoon rains triggered the collapse, burying freelance jade scavengers searching for gemstone scraps. The disaster highlights persistent safety risks facing workers in Myanmar’s largely unregulated jade mining industry.
According to state media, the landslide occurred late Sunday in Hpakant Township, the world’s largest jade-producing region. Around 20 freelance scavengers were working under floodlights when a heap of mining waste suddenly collapsed. The Global New Light of Myanmar reported that several days of heavy rainfall had destabilized old waste piles, causing the deadly incident. Search teams continue efforts to recover those still trapped beneath the debris.
Fatal accidents are common in Myanmar’s jade mines, especially during the annual monsoon season. Heavy rainfall frequently weakens unstable excavation sites and waste heaps created by years of unregulated mining. Freelance scavengers, who search discarded mining debris for valuable jade fragments, often face the greatest risks while earning a livelihood from the highly profitable industry.
The jade-rich region has also become a major battleground in Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict. Rival armed groups and the military continue competing for control of lucrative mining operations, using jade revenues to finance their activities. The prolonged instability has further complicated efforts to improve safety and oversight in the mining sector.
Myanmar has remained engulfed in conflict since the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, ending the country’s decade-long democratic transition. The combination of armed conflict, weak regulation, and hazardous mining practices continues to expose thousands of workers to life-threatening conditions.