MYANMAR — A catastrophic landslide at a remote jade mine has left at least five people dead and another 15 missing, according to local authorities and rescue teams on the ground.

The disaster occurred early on Tuesday morning, June 30, 2026, when a massive pile of mining waste collapsed, burying a group of workers who were searching for jade fragments. Heavy rainfall in the region over the past several days is believed to have destabilized the loose earth and mining debris, triggering the landslide.

Emergency response teams and local volunteers launched a search operation immediately following the collapse. However, rescue efforts have been hampered by hazardous terrain and the instability of the mud and rock.

So far, five bodies have been recovered from the debris, while rescue teams continue their desperate search for 15 individuals still believed to be buried under the waste. The situation remains precarious, as officials have issued urgent warnings that the ground is highly unstable, posing a significant risk to the safety of the rescue workers operating in the area.

The jade mining industry in Myanmar is frequently marked by deadly accidents. Due to the high value of jade, many independent miners often referred to as "scavengers," work in extremely dangerous conditions, picking through piles of waste abandoned by larger commercial mining operations.

"The situation remains dire as we continue to sift through the debris," a local community leader stated. "These workers were just trying to make a living, and they were caught in an environment that is constantly on the verge of collapsing."

Local government officials have promised to launch an inquiry into the safety protocols at the site, though critics point to a long-standing history of inadequate regulation and oversight in the region's mining sector. Families of the victims are currently gathering at the site, awaiting news from the rescue crews as the search enters its second day.