Fatal jade mine collapse in Hpakant

dvb

A jade miner has died and two others were injured after a landslide struck an unregulated site in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, on Monday. The victim was buried beneath unstable soil and rock debris, adding to a grim toll of accidents linked to informal scavenging during Myanmar’s monsoon season.

Residents said heavy rains had saturated waste piles, making them prone to collapse. “Waste piles can become saturated with rainwater during heavy monsoon rains, causing them to collapse,” one local told DVB anonymously.

It remains unclear whether the territory where the accident occurred was under the control of the Kachin Independence Army or military forces, both of which maintain overlapping influence in the area.

Hpakant, the global centre of Myanmar’s jade industry, has long been plagued by deadly landslides. Unregulated mining practices, unstable slopes and inadequate safety measures combine with torrential rains to create recurring disasters.

This latest incident follows a series of tragedies in 2026: in February, ten miners were killed at Kuday Hmaw village; in June, five died and 15 went missing at Nanmaw village. Monday’s collapse adds another casualty to a pattern of preventable accidents.

The ongoing conflict since the 2021 coup has further weakened oversight, leaving thousands of freelance miners vulnerable as they scavenge jade from precarious, waterlogged cliffs. For communities in Hpakant, each rainy season brings renewed fear of landslides and loss of life.

-2026-09-17