Three individuals tragically lost their lives in a landslide near a rare earth mining site in Panwa, Kachin State. According to local reports, the incident occurred around midnight on June 19, when the barracks where workers were housed collapsed due to the landslide.

The landslide struck near Parhtaikhaw village, reportedly causing a section of the mountain to collapse and bury the workers' barracks under debris. The local community confirmed that the three deceased were identified as U Tun Naing Kyu, U Zaw Tu Mai, and Daw Khon Mai, all of whom were road workers at the site.

Regarding the landslide, contact was made to U Zakhun Taint Yein family , but they only replied that they were not free at the moment.

On June 4, a landslide occurred in the Myanmar Myo Ko Ko’s company mining site, leaving around twenty workers missing and only a few bodies recovered.

According to the Chin State (branch office) records of the Department of Mines, rare earth (Rare Earth Metal) is produced in the border areas of Panwa, Lweje and Phemaw in the China border. 

It is difficult to produce and refine each type of metal (element) and requires a lot of technology and resources. Records show that there are 17 different elements. 

The incident highlights the risks associated with mining activities in Myanmar's northern regions, where rare earth minerals are abundant. These minerals are crucial for various technological applications but extracting them involves complex processes and significant environmental challenges.

Global Witness announced on August 9, that more than 2,700 mining sites were found in northern Myanmar according to satellite photos dated March 2022.In December 2021, Myanmar exported US$200 million to China, according to the report. The group's report in 2023 cited China's customs department as saying that there were more than three hundred mining sites and the value of rare earth minerals shipped from Myanmar to China in 2023 was over US$1,400 million.

About 15 miles between Chiphwe and Panwa in Kachin State, the top soil is not removed from the mountains, but the topsoil is dug up to 6 inches around five feet, and liquid chemicals  is poured in, and rare metals are absorbed from inside.