Landslide in Myanmar Jade Mining Area Kills 12, Dozens Missing

The disaster in Kachin state's Hpakant township buried over 50 homes, highlighting the dangers of Myanmar's lucrative but hazardous jade mining industry.

• At least 12 people, including four children, have been confirmed dead after a landslide in northern Myanmar's jade mining region early Monday morning.
• Over 50 houses in the village of Spott were buried by mud and debris from a nearby mining waste pond, with 30 to 50 people still reported missing.
• Rescue operations are underway, but efforts are hindered by the volume of mud and the need for heavy machinery, according to local sources.
• Hpakant's jade mines are known for frequent landslides, with previous disasters in 2020 and 2015 claiming hundreds of lives, often affecting unregistered migrant workers scavenging for jade.
• The jade mining industry generates billions of dollars annually, providing revenue for both Myanmar's military government and the Kachin Independence Army, an ethnic armed group involved in ongoing conflict in the region.

3 Articles

Associated Press Associated Press SHINE