Local authorities said as many as 50 people were buried after a landslide hit a jade mining area in northern Myanmar on Friday. This is the second such incident in a month. The tragedy took place in Hpakant, Kachin State, a war-torn area in the middle of the country’s military-guarded jade mining region. Rescue work began on Friday, but many workers are still trapped under rubble. Reuters reported that four or five bodies were recovered during rescue operations, but their is no confirmation on the number of deaths yet.

On November 22, an area in the same region was hit by a landslide that killed more than 100 people. Miners have been rushing to excavate whatever jade remains in the area, before the new government assumes office in 2016. The newly-elected National League for Democracy, headed by Aung San Suu Kyi, is expected to tighten control over the jade mines. Jade mining in Myanmar is mostly run by the military, with workers getting almost no income although the military junta has made huge sums off the stones. Much of the best jade is reportedly smuggled to China, where the stone is believed to bring prosperity to people.