Several feared dead, over 6,000 left homeless as collapse triggers flash floods
The surge of water submerged several homes and forced villagers to seek safety on rooftops. Pics/AP and AFP
Hundreds of people are missing and an unknown number believed dead after the collapse of a hydropower dam under construction in southeast Laos, state media reported yesterday.
Several dams are being built or are planned in Laos, an impoverished and landlocked communist country that exports most of its hydropower energy to neighbouring countries like Thailand.
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Laos News Agency said the accident happened at a hydropower dam in southeastern Attapeu province's Sanamxay district late Monday, releasing five billion cubic metres of water, more than two million Olympic swimming pools. The report added that the there were "several human lives claimed, and several hundreds of people missing."
Several houses in the southern part of the district were swept away and officials in the province put out a call for relief aid for flood victims.
The $1.2 billion dam is part of a project by Vientiane-based Xe Pian Xe Namnoy Power Company, or PNPC, a joint venture formed in 2012. Among the companies involved in the project are Thailand's Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, South Korea's Korea Western Power and the state-run Lao Holding State Enterprise. The 410 megawatt capacity dam was supposed to start operations by 2019.
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