A devastating landslide at a jade mine in Myanmar’s Hpakant city has claimed the lives of 32 people, highlighting the dangerous conditions often faced by miners in the jade industry. The tragic incident unfolded in the northern mountainous region of Kachin state on Sunday. A collapse of a sand cliff triggered the catastrophe, sending water into a nearby lake and trapping the miners underground.
The victims, all men, were mostly impoverished migrants who had come to the area in search of work. Hpakant is known for hosting some of the largest and most lucrative jade mines in the world, contributing significantly to Myanmar’s jade production, which makes up around 70% of the world’s supply.
Myanmar’s jade industry, fueled by demand from neighboring China, is plagued by problems of conflict, corruption and environmental degradation. The value of the industry was estimated at $31 billion in 2014, accounting for nearly half of Myanmar’s official GDP that year. However, due to the lack of regulation, the true value of the industry remains unknown.
Tragedies like this are not new to the region, as landslides and dangerous working conditions have claimed the lives of miners in the past. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to improve safety measures and regulation in the jade mining sector.
This article is sourced from and written by AI.
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