June 16, 2026
Two jade scavengers were killed after being swept away by a mudflow in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, following heavy rainfall on the morning of June 14, according to local sources.
The incident occurred at abandoned jade mining waste sites near Bazan Chaut Village and Kaung San Village, where the victims had been searching for jade. Heavy rain triggered a sudden collapse of soil piles, causing a deadly mudflow.
A local resident from Spa Village told Manau Voice that both victims died on the same day, although at different locations. The resident explained that continuous rainfall over the past week had destabilized the soil, leading to landslides that struck without warning while the workers were digging for jade.
One of the deceased was identified as U Win Myint Tun, a resident of Ward 3 in Seik Mu Village. The other victim was reported to be from Kaung San Village.
Another local resident noted that many scavengers work on abandoned waste piles left by companies that suspend operations during the rainy season. In one case, only a single shoe of a victim was visible, as the force of the mud, mixed with stones and sand, was extremely powerful.
A similar incident occurred earlier on May 24 in Bazan Chaut Village within the same village tract, where three jade scavengers were injured due to a landslide while searching for jade.
