The impact of the dam-caused flood disaster in Attapeu province’s Sanamxay district has widened as floodwaters flow further downstream from the Xe Pian River, Vientianes Times reported.
It said the official death toll climbed to four as of yesterday afternoon with 127 people remaining missing, quoting the district governor, Mr Bounhome Phommasane.
More than 10,000 people have been relocated to temporary shelter centres in Attapeu and Champassak provinces, it said, adding that a total of 13 villages were hit by the floods.
“Numbers of affected villages are likely to increase as the flood waters flow further downstream,” the governor said. “Today, we have also focused on assisting three or four villages further downstream.”
Houses in eight villages were first to be submerged by the flash flood caused by the fracture of Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower reservoir’s saddle dam D. Vientiane Times said the construction of the dam was 90 percent complete when it partially collapsed.
It said vehicles have now been able to access some upstream villages where the water level has since decreased but periodic rainfall has partially hampered rescue operations.
