5 Killed, Around 15 Missing After Jade Mine Waste Heap Collapses in Myanmar

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Hpakant, Myanmar : At least five people were killed and around 15 others remain missing after a waste heap at a disused jade mine collapsed in Myanmar's northern Kachin State following days of heavy monsoon rain, according to state media.

The incident happened late on Sunday in Hpakant Township, where freelance jade scavengers were searching for leftover gemstone fragments under floodlights when the unstable heap gave way and buried them. Rescue teams are continuing search operations for those still trapped.

State media said continuous rainfall had weakened old mine waste heaps, triggering the collapse.

Myanmar's jade industry has long been plagued by deadly accidents, especially during the monsoon season when heavy rain makes abandoned mining sites and waste piles, unstable. Many people risk their lives scavenging for valuable jade pieces left behind by large mining operations as a means of earning a living.

Hpakant, located in Kachin State, is the world's largest source of jadeite, a gemstone that is highly valued across Asia, particularly in neighbouring China. Much of Myanmar's jade mining industry operates with limited regulation.

The region has also seen intense fighting in recent months between Myanmar's military and armed opposition groups, with both sides seeking control over the lucrative jade mining business. Myanmar has been engulfed in civil war since the military seized power in 2021, overthrowing the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Pic Credit: AFP