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| Laos dam collapse: Hundreds missing after flash floods hit villages | Laos dam collapse: Hundreds missing after flash floods hit villages |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of people are missing and an unknown number dead after a dam under construction collapsed in south-east Laos, state media reported. | Hundreds of people are missing and an unknown number dead after a dam under construction collapsed in south-east Laos, state media reported. |
| The collapse at the hydroelectric dam in Attapeu province late on Monday sent flash floods through six villages, Lao News Agency said. | The collapse at the hydroelectric dam in Attapeu province late on Monday sent flash floods through six villages, Lao News Agency said. |
| More than 6,600 people have been made homeless, it added. | More than 6,600 people have been made homeless, it added. |
| Pictures showed villagers stranded on the roofs of submerged house and boats carrying people to safety. | Pictures showed villagers stranded on the roofs of submerged house and boats carrying people to safety. |
| "The disaster has claimed several human lives [and] left hundreds of people missing," the agency reported. | "The disaster has claimed several human lives [and] left hundreds of people missing," the agency reported. |
| Construction of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam began in 2013 and it was due to begin commercial operations next year. | Construction of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam began in 2013 and it was due to begin commercial operations next year. |
| The main Thai stakeholder in the project, Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, said it had received a report from the dam's operator that a "saddle dam", measuring 770m long and 16m high, had collapsed. | The main Thai stakeholder in the project, Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, said it had received a report from the dam's operator that a "saddle dam", measuring 770m long and 16m high, had collapsed. |
| It said continuous rainstorms had led "a high volume of water" to flow into the reservoir. | It said continuous rainstorms had led "a high volume of water" to flow into the reservoir. |
| "Currently, Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company Limited and related agencies have evacuated the people who reside around the area," the statement added. | "Currently, Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company Limited and related agencies have evacuated the people who reside around the area," the statement added. |
| A spokesman for SK Engineering & Construction, a South Korean company with a stake in the project, told the BBC a small supply dam - not the main dam - had been partly lost due to "unexpected heavy rainfall". | A spokesman for SK Engineering & Construction, a South Korean company with a stake in the project, told the BBC a small supply dam - not the main dam - had been partly lost due to "unexpected heavy rainfall". |
| "We still don't know the exact cause, but we believe parts of the upper part of the dam were lost... and water overflowed from the supply dam," he said. | "We still don't know the exact cause, but we believe parts of the upper part of the dam were lost... and water overflowed from the supply dam," he said. |
| Environmental groups have previously expressed fears over Laos's hydroelectric programme and its potential impact on communities and ecosystems downstream of dams. | Environmental groups have previously expressed fears over Laos's hydroelectric programme and its potential impact on communities and ecosystems downstream of dams. |
| Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has postponed government meetings and gone to the affected area in Sanamxay district with senior officials to monitor relief efforts, state media said. | Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has postponed government meetings and gone to the affected area in Sanamxay district with senior officials to monitor relief efforts, state media said. |
| Local authorities have appealed to government bodies and other communities to help provide emergency aid for the victims such as clothing, food, drinking water and medicine. | Local authorities have appealed to government bodies and other communities to help provide emergency aid for the victims such as clothing, food, drinking water and medicine. |
| 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 |
| Are you in the affected area? Please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk and send pictures or video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk | |
| You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |