Heartbreak and Hope in the Hpakant Jade Mine
The Tragic Day
On Thursday, rescue crews at a jade mine in Hpakant discovered two more bodies, bringing the confirmed death toll to three. The blast of dirt and rubble had buried dozens—whether they were alive or not is a grim question the emergency teams are still trying to answer.
- Three known victims that morning.
- At least 50 people remain missing; many “likely” dead.
- The Kachin Network Development Foundation estimates around 80 missing.
- Other reports claim as many as 100 could be under the wreckage.
The Ever‑Unpredictable Mine
In the heart of Myanmar’s secretive jade industry, miners are trapped in a cycle of danger and desperation.
- In an earlier landslide last weekend, at least six people lost their lives.
- The July disaster claimed more than 170 souls when litter of spoil collapsed into a lake.
- COVID‑19 drove more migrants to the mine, while a military coup has stiffened the peril.
Why This Matters
More than just a pile of stones, the jade trade feeds the fortunes of politicians and ethnic armed groups, yet leaves ordinary workers in ruin.
- Myanmar produces 90% of the world’s jade—most from Hpakant.
- Mining firms tied to the military and armed groups rake in billions.
- Reform ambitions launched in 2016 have largely stalled; the coup only worsened the situation.
- Research groups call it a “torpedo” for any genuine reform of the jade sector.
What the Rescuers Are Saying
Captain Pyae Nyein of the Hpakant fire department is on the frontlines.
- “We’re still combing through the wreckage; no survivors yet.”
- He says “If a body surface, it usually takes four to seven days.”
One Last Message
While the sky weeps and the mud clings, the rescue crews persist in their search. Their bravery and the sobering truth of safety gaps in Myanmar’s jade mines remind us that because money is made from the earth, it is vital that the earth is respected—and those who work within it are protected.
