Monsoon rains triggered the collapse of a slag heap at a disused jade mine in northern Myanmar, killing five people and leaving around 15 others missing. The victims were freelance scavengers searching for gem fragments when the heap gave way late Sunday (June 28) in Kachin state's Hpakant township.&nbsp;State media reported that approximately 20 scavengers were working under floodlights when they were buried. The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper stated that days of heavy rain had left the old mine waste heaps unstable. Search teams continue to dig for those who remain missing. “The collapse occurred after days of heavy rain left old mine waste heaps unstable. At least five people have been confirmed dead, and around 15 remain missing. Search teams continue digging for those still missing,” the publication reported.&nbsp;Mass casualty accidents occur frequently at Myanmar's mines, particularly during the monsoon season. Heavy rains destabilise sites where workers dig unsafe shafts or accumulate precarious waste heaps. The impoverished locals who sift through discarded rubble for fragments missed by main mining operations represent the bottom rung of this highly profitable industry.&nbsp;Northern Kachin state serves as the world's largest source of jadeite, a gemstone considered auspicious in many Asian cultures and highly lucrative in neighbouring China. Myanmar maintains a massive unregulated mining sector. Factions fighting in the country's post-coup civil war control many of these mines, utilising the profits to fund their operations while local workers toil underground or scrounge for leftovers to earn a living. Hpakant has recently experienced vicious combat as the Myanmar military and opposition forces vie for control over the jade mining operations.&nbsp;Myanmar has been consumed by civil war since 2021, when the military toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. This coup ended a decade-long experiment with democracy in the nation.

A deadly landslide triggered by monsoon rains has collapsed a disused jade mine dump in Hpakant, Myanmar, killing at least five people and leaving 15 missing. 

Monsoon rains triggered the collapse of a slag heap at a disused jade mine in northern Myanmar, killing five people and leaving around 15 others missing. The victims were freelance scavengers searching for gem fragments when the heap gave way late Sunday (June 28) in Kachin state's Hpakant township. State media reported that approximately 20 scavengers were working under floodlights when they were buried. The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper stated that days of heavy rain had left the old mine waste heaps unstable. Search teams continue to dig for those who remain missing. “The collapse occurred after days of heavy rain left old mine waste heaps unstable. At least five people have been confirmed dead, and around 15 remain missing. Search teams continue digging for those still missing,” the publication reported. Mass casualty accidents occur frequently at Myanmar's mines, particularly during the monsoon season. Heavy rains destabilise sites where workers dig unsafe shafts or accumulate precarious waste heaps. The impoverished locals who sift through discarded rubble for fragments missed by main mining operations represent the bottom rung of this highly profitable industry. Northern Kachin state serves as the world's largest source of jadeite, a gemstone considered auspicious in many Asian cultures and highly lucrative in neighbouring China. Myanmar maintains a massive unregulated mining sector. Factions fighting in the country's post-coup civil war control many of these mines, utilising the profits to fund their operations while local workers toil underground or scrounge for leftovers to earn a living. Hpakant has recently experienced vicious combat as the Myanmar military and opposition forces vie for control over the jade mining operations. Myanmar has been consumed by civil war since 2021, when the military toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. This coup ended a decade-long experiment with democracy in the nation.

A deadly landslide triggered by monsoon rains has collapsed a disused jade mine dump in Hpakant, Myanmar, killing at least five people and leaving 15 missing.

At least 5 dead, 15 missing after landslide at Myanmar jade mine

A landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar has killed at least one person and left dozens more missing, according to a member of the rescue squad.

The landslide in Kachin state's Hpakant district occurred at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday, and there were fears that up to 100 people could be missing.

"We've sent 25 injured people to the hospital while we've found one deceased," said Ko Nyi, a member of the rescue squad.

He said some 200 rescuers were looking for bodies, with others using boats to hunt for the deceased in a nearby lake.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/how-jade-the-precious-stone-is-funding-ethnic-conflicts-in-myanmar-18223">Also read | How jade, the precious stone, is funding ethnic conflicts in Myanmar</a>

According to the Kachin News Group, the landslide killed 20 miners, while Myanmar's fire service said its workers from Hpakant and the nearby town of Lone Khin were involved in the rescue effort but did not provide any figures for the dead or missing.

According to Reuters, up to 80 people could have been pushed into the lake by mining waste, according to a representative from the Kachin Network Development Foundation, a civil society organisation. 
 
<img alt="Hpakant" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="825f4a3b-6f9d-4096-b0fc-e05c75d4be9b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29_160.jpg" /> 
File photo: Miners work in open-cast jade mines near Hpakant in Myanmar's Kachin state. (AFP Photo)

Myanmar is the world's largest producer of jade, yet its mines have been plagued by accidents.

An overflow of rubble thrown from vehicles to the open-pit mines is thought to have caused the avalanche.&nbsp;

The jade mines in Myanmar are notoriously hazardous.

On July 2, 2020, a major landslide at the Wai Khar jade mining site in the Hpakant area of Kachin State, Myanmar, killed between 175 and 200 miners in the country's deadliest-ever mining accident.&nbsp;

Low-paid migrant workers who toil in the mines face perilous working conditions, especially during the monsoon season.

In the industry, which is controlled by the military elite and private companies, equipment failures and other accidents are regular.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar has killed at least one person and left dozens more missing, according to a member of the rescue squad. The landslide in Kachin state's Hpakant district occurred at 4 a.

A landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar has killed at least one person and left dozens more missing, according to a member of the rescue squad. The landslide in Kachin state's Hpakant district occurred at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday, and there were fears that up to 100 people could be missing. "We've sent 25 injured people to the hospital while we've found one deceased," said Ko Nyi, a member of the rescue squad. He said some 200 rescuers were looking for bodies, with others using boats to hunt for the deceased in a nearby lake. Also read | How jade, the precious stone, is funding ethnic conflicts in Myanmar According to the Kachin News Group, the landslide killed 20 miners, while Myanmar's fire service said its workers from Hpakant and the nearby town of Lone Khin were involved in the rescue effort but did not provide any figures for the dead or missing. According to Reuters, up to 80 people could have been pushed into the lake by mining waste, according to a representative from the Kachin Network Development Foundation, a civil society organisation. File photo: Miners work in open-cast jade mines near Hpakant in Myanmar's Kachin state. (AFP Photo) Myanmar is the world's largest producer of jade, yet its mines have been plagued by accidents. An overflow of rubble thrown from vehicles to the open-pit mines is thought to have caused the avalanche. The jade mines in Myanmar are notoriously hazardous. On July 2, 2020, a major landslide at the Wai Khar jade mining site in the Hpakant area of Kachin State, Myanmar, killed between 175 and 200 miners in the country's deadliest-ever mining accident. Low-paid migrant workers who toil in the mines face perilous working conditions, especially during the monsoon season. In the industry, which is controlled by the military elite and private companies, equipment failures and other accidents are regular. (With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar jade mine landslide: One killed, over 70 feared missing

The death toll from a mud slide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar surged to over 100 Thursday, authorities said, in one of the worst accidents ever to hit the perilous industry.

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"A total of 113 bodies been found so far," Myanmar Fire Service said in a Facebook post.&nbsp;

A local police officer said search and rescue efforts had been suspended due to heavy rains.

The death toll from a mud slide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar surged to over 100 Thursday, authorities said, in one of the worst accidents ever to hit the perilous industry.

The death toll from a mud slide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar surged to over 100 Thursday, authorities said, in one of the worst accidents ever to hit the perilous industry. Also read | Myanmar sets November 8 as the date for parliamentary election "A total of 113 bodies been found so far," Myanmar Fire Service said in a Facebook post. A local police officer said search and rescue efforts had been suspended due to heavy rains.

Death toll from Myanmar jade mine landslide rises to 113

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At least 5 dead, 15 missing after landslide at Myanmar jade mine

Myanmar jade mine landslide: One killed, over 70 feared missing

Death toll from Myanmar jade mine landslide rises to 113