Heavy landslide in Myanmar's jade mine, more than 30 people missing; rescue operation underway

A landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar left more than 30 people missing as search and rescue operations continued on Monday. A rescue officer gave this information.

The incident happened in Hpakant, a remote mountain town in Kachin state, about 950 kilometers (600 miles) north of Yangon, Myanmar's largest city. The region is home to the world's largest and most lucrative jade mines.

A local rescue team leader told the Associated Press news agency on Monday that more than 30 jade miners digging in a lake were swept away by a landslide near the village of Manna at around 3:30 pm on Sunday. Mud and debris from several mines near the village slid down a cliff 304 meters (about 1,000 feet) into the lake, sweeping away miners along the way, he said.

He said 34 people were confirmed missing and local rescue teams were searching the lake on Monday. He further said that eight miners were injured and were taken to a local hospital on Sunday.

A miner, who did not wish to be identified, said that three of his co-workers who were digging for jade fell into the lake due to a landslide. She further said that most of the victims were men.

In July 2020, at least 162 people died in a landslide in the same area, while 113 people died in the November 2015 accident.