Over 30 people went missing after a landslide occurred at an old jade mine near Mana village in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, on the evening of August 13, according to local social organizations.

The landslide occurred yesterday evening. A video footage spreading on social media shows that 20 feet high waves appeared during the landslide. 

The locals said that dump soil collapsed into the lake causing the huge waves which carried away the jade hunters from the old mining site.

“Some jade scavengers were evacuated. Some are now missing. According to the data collected, over 30 people are still missing. No rescue workers dare to go down into the lake because small landslides have repeatedly occurred after the accident. Mostly missing people are from Mana village. The height of dumping soil is about 100 feet. The huge wave beat and pushed the jade scavengers into the lake. Now, the rescue workers are searching the missing people,” said one of the rescue workers.

The residents near the scene said that the death toll was a bit low because the accident took place on Sunday. Most residents go to church on Sunday.

Although the companies in Hpakant area have been banned from jade mining, some are still doing it stealthily with heavy machines, according to local sources.

Landslides are frequent in Kachin State every month, especially in early rainy season due to continued jade mining, natural disasters and waste heap collapses into the lake.