Laos: Floods ravage 180 villages in Khammouane province, Laos
(Baonghean.vn) - Lao National Radio reported: In addition to the dam failure in Attapeu province in southern Laos, major floods are raging in 180 villages, over an area of more than 180,000 hectares including 7 districts of Khammuan province.
This is a province in Central Laos, bordering Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces of Vietnam. The districts that are heavily flooded are: Bualapha, Hinbun, Thakhek, XaybuaThong, Nhommalat, MahaXay and Nongboc district.
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| At least 180 villages in Kham Muon were isolated by floodwaters. Photo: Lang Quoc Khanh |
Due to heavy rain in the past few days, the water level of the Mekong River and the Xe-Bang-Phay River from upstream has risen, causing severe flooding, which is very dangerous and has significantly affected people's lives. Mr. Bounxieng Xaphakdi - Director of the Department of Labor and Welfare of Khammouane Province, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue, said that the water level of the Mekong River and the Xe-Bang-Phay River has risen since July 25. The province has coordinated with relevant agencies to monitor and warn people to proactively prevent and join hands to fight floods. In particular, for districts along the two rivers mentioned above, which are often flooded every year, people need to be on guard to minimize damage caused by natural disasters.
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| A village submerged by floodwaters. Photo: Lang Quoc Khanh |
The Director of the Department of Labor and Welfare of Khammouane Province also said: It is still not possible to calculate specific damages. However, the province is actively proposing prevention plans and warning people about the extremely complicated natural disaster situation, in order to prevent it in the short term as well as in the long term, even when the water has receded.
