At least eight killed in Kachin State jade mining hub
At least eight people, including women and children, were killed by the collapse of a man-made pond used by jade miners in Sapot village of Hpakant Township in Kachin State on Monday. Kachin media reported that around 50 homes in the village were destroyed by mud. Hpakant is located 94 miles (151 km) west of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina.
“The pond collapsed early in the morning when people were asleep. Eight bodies have been recovered so far, but the death toll might be more as we are still searching for people who are missing,” a Sapot resident told DVB. The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) stated that it is leading the search for survivors.
The KIO visited the pond and warned residents about its potential collapse on Jan. 6. More than 100,000 people live in the Seikmu village tract, where Sapot is located, according to the 2014 population census. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) seized Seikmu village tract in Hpakant last March. The KIA has taken control of at least 15 towns in Kachin and Shan states, as well as Sagaing Region, since it launched its offensive against the military on March 7.
Sri Lanka civil society protest against Rohingya deportation
Sri Lanka civil society and human rights groups protested on Friday against the proposed deportation of over 100 Rohingya, including an estimated two dozen children, who were rescued off the coast of Mullaitivu, located 209 miles (337 km) northeast of the capital Colombo, on Dec. 19. Sri Lanka is not a signatory to the U.N. Refugee Convention, but allows the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to operate.
“Their objective wasn’t to get to Sri Lanka. Their objective was to get somewhere, anywhere where they could survive,” Thasneema Dahlan, an activist who took part in the Colombo protest on Jan. 10, told Arab News. “We are urging the government to … please not send them back, not repatriate them, not deport them, because that is just sending them back to death.”
A protest took place in Mullaitivu following an announcement on Jan. 3 from Sri Lanka Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala that the government was in talks with the regime in Naypyidaw, which seized power after the 2021 coup, to deport the Rohingya to Burma. In December 2022, the Sri Lanka Navy rescued 104 Rohingya from a boat adrift at sea but placed them under the care of the UNHCR for resettlement.
Internet shutdowns in 82 towns nationwide under regime
The Myanmar Internet Project (MIP), a digital rights group which was founded in 2022 following the military coup, released a report on Jan. 7 documenting that 82 towns in Arakan, Kachin, Shan, Chin, Karen, Karenni and Mon states, as well as Sagaing, Magway, Mandalay and Tanintharyi regions, experienced over 130 internet shutdowns imposed by the regime in 2024.
“We need internet services to seek donors and funding. Without it, we won’t be able to help the internally displaced persons. Now, we use Starlink for internet services,” an aid worker in Kawlin, Sagaing Region, told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Starlink is a satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk’s Space X.
Residents living in the 82 towns nationwide, which have faced internet shutdowns, have complained about being unable to access banking services, obtaining timely information from news sources, and rising commodity prices in the market. They also mentioned issues in accessing education, healthcare and social services, but did not elaborate further.
News by Region

AYEYARWADY—Residents of Chaungtha in Pathein Township told DVB that the military has been expanding its emergency aircraft landing strip since Friday. Chaungtha is located 37 miles (59 km) from the Ayeyarwady Region capital Pathein. Many Chaungtha residents have fled to Pathein for safety.
“Naval ships arrived at Chaungtha and Shwethaungyan beaches with many troops. An aircraft landing strip is also being built in the town,” a Chanugtha resident told DVB. The Arakan Army (AA) attacked Ayeyarwady’s Magyizin village, located 20 miles (32 km) south of Gwa Township in southern Arakan State, on Jan. 7.
SHAN—Two civilians were killed and one was injured by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Phikyut village of Hsihseng Township on Saturday, the Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA) claimed. Hsihseng is located 31 miles (50 km) south of the Shan State capital Taunggyi and 38 miles (61 km) north of the Karenni State capital Loikaw.
“The jet came five times and dropped bombs four times. One of them hit farmers returning from the fields. The two who died were a mother and daughter,” said Khun Rein Yan, the PNLA spokesperson, who added there was no fighting with the military in Phikyut. On Dec. 31, the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) claimed that the military bombed its headquarters in Mawkmai Township of southern Shan.
YANGON—Mingaladon Township residents report that military personnel are digging trenches around the Yangon International Airport and the Burma Air Force headquarters (formerly Air Base 502) with machinery. The airport is located nine miles (15 km) north of central Yangon.
“There is a trench of earthworks in one area and another where rocks are being poured in. We notice an increase in vehicle traffic. Military trucks are also going in and out the entrance behind Waibargi Train Station,” a resident told DVB. Air Base 502 is next to the airport in Mingaladon. In April 2023, it was targeted by a missile attack from resistance groups.
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