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| Laos dam collapse: Many feared dead as floods hit villages | Laos dam collapse: Many feared dead as floods hit villages |
| (1 day later) | |
| At least 20 people have been killed and more than 100 are missing in flooding following the collapse of an under-construction dam in south-east Laos. | At least 20 people have been killed and more than 100 are missing in flooding following the collapse of an under-construction dam in south-east Laos. |
| Workers found the hydroelectric dam in Attapeu province was partially damaged on Sunday, and villagers living nearby were evacuated. | Workers found the hydroelectric dam in Attapeu province was partially damaged on Sunday, and villagers living nearby were evacuated. |
| The dam collapsed late on Monday, sending flash floods through six villages. | The dam collapsed late on Monday, sending flash floods through six villages. |
| More than 6,600 people have been made homeless, Lao News Agency reported. | More than 6,600 people have been made homeless, Lao News Agency reported. |
| Pictures showed villagers and young children stranded on the roofs of submerged houses. | Pictures showed villagers and young children stranded on the roofs of submerged houses. |
| Attapeu is Laos' southernmost province, and borders Cambodia and Vietnam. | Attapeu is Laos' southernmost province, and borders Cambodia and Vietnam. |
| It is known for agriculture, rich trees and wood-based industries - and hydropower is one of its major exports. | It is known for agriculture, rich trees and wood-based industries - and hydropower is one of its major exports. |
| What do we know about the dam - and how did it collapse? | What do we know about the dam - and how did it collapse? |
| The dam that collapsed is part of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric power project, which involves Laotian, Thai and South Korean firms. | The dam that collapsed is part of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric power project, which involves Laotian, Thai and South Korean firms. |
| The subsidiary dam, known as "Saddle Dam D", was part of a network of two main dams and five subsidiary dams. | The subsidiary dam, known as "Saddle Dam D", was part of a network of two main dams and five subsidiary dams. |
| SK Engineering & Construction, a South Korean company with a stake in the project, said fractures were first discovered on the dam on Sunday, before it collapsed: | SK Engineering & Construction, a South Korean company with a stake in the project, said fractures were first discovered on the dam on Sunday, before it collapsed: |
| Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, the main Thai stakeholder, said in a statement that the dam "was fractured" after "continuous rainstorm[s]" caused a "high volume of water to flow into the project's reservoir". | Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, the main Thai stakeholder, said in a statement that the dam "was fractured" after "continuous rainstorm[s]" caused a "high volume of water to flow into the project's reservoir". |
| As a result, water "leaked to the downstream area and down to Xe-Pian River" about 5km (three miles) away, it added. | As a result, water "leaked to the downstream area and down to Xe-Pian River" about 5km (three miles) away, it added. |
| "Saddle Dam D" was 8m wide, 770m long and 16m high - and was designed to help divert water around a local reservoir, the company said. | "Saddle Dam D" was 8m wide, 770m long and 16m high - and was designed to help divert water around a local reservoir, the company said. |
| Both Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding and SK Engineering & Construction say they have been helping with evacuation and relief operations. | Both Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding and SK Engineering & Construction say they have been helping with evacuation and relief operations. |
| What is being done to help those affected? | What is being done to help those affected? |
| Officials have been trying to rescue stranded villagers by boat. | Officials have been trying to rescue stranded villagers by boat. |
| Local authorities have appealed to government bodies and other communities to provide emergency aid such as clothing, food, drinking water and medicine. | Local authorities have appealed to government bodies and other communities to provide emergency aid such as clothing, food, drinking water and medicine. |
| Meanwhile, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has postponed government meetings and gone to the affected area in Sanamxay district to monitor relief efforts, state media says. | Meanwhile, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has postponed government meetings and gone to the affected area in Sanamxay district to monitor relief efforts, state media says. |
| One local Attapeu official told AFP news agency that there was no phone signal in the flooded areas, adding to communication problems. | One local Attapeu official told AFP news agency that there was no phone signal in the flooded areas, adding to communication problems. |
| Hydroelectric ambitions in Laos | Hydroelectric ambitions in Laos |
| Sources: Hydropower.org, the Laotian Times and Lao News Agency | Sources: Hydropower.org, the Laotian Times and Lao News Agency |