Landslide at Jade Mining Site Kills Around 20 Miners in Hpakant

Pajau Media

July 21, 2025

At around 6:30 AM today, July 21, a landslide occurred at a jade mining site near Maw Si Sar village, in the Aung Thar Yar (2) old mining area, Hpakant Township, reportedly killing approximately 20 informal miners.

The landslide took place at an abandoned mining heap located within the Aung Thar Yar (2) jade mining site, associated with Sein Sein and Jet Power companies, where hand-dug miners were sifting through leftover soil in search of jade.

According to an eyewitness, “There were about 20 people in total, both those staying inside the shelters and those down in the pits. Maybe even more. As of now, only two bodies have been recovered.”

As of this afternoon, only two bodies had been found since the landslide occurred in the early hours of the morning.

Every monsoon season in Hpakant, landslides frequently occur at old mining sites, especially where informal miners search for jade among unstable soil heaps, often resulting in fatalities.

News – Andy