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| Laos dam collapse: Hundreds missing after flash floods hit villages | Laos dam collapse: Hundreds missing after flash floods hit villages |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of people are missing and an unknown number are dead after a dam under construction collapsed in south-east Laos, state media say. | Hundreds of people are missing and an unknown number are dead after a dam under construction collapsed in south-east Laos, state media say. |
| The collapse at the hydroelectric dam in Attapeu province late on Monday sent flash floods through six villages, Lao News Agency reported. | The collapse at the hydroelectric dam in Attapeu province late on Monday sent flash floods through six villages, Lao News Agency reported. |
| 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. |
| Attapeu is Lao's southernmost province, and borders Cambodia and Vietnam. | Attapeu is Lao's 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", collapsed 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. | The subsidiary dam, known as "Saddle Dam D", collapsed 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. |
| As a result, the dam "was fractured" and water "leaked to the downstream area and down to Xe-Pian River" about 5km (three miles) away, it added. | As a result, the dam "was fractured" and water "leaked to the downstream area and down to Xe-Pian River" about 5km (three miles) away, it added. |
| "Saddle Dam D" is 8m wide, 770m long and 16m high - and was designed to help divert water around a local reservoir, the company said. | "Saddle Dam D" is 8m wide, 770m long and 16m high - and was designed to help divert water around a local reservoir, the company said. |
| Meanwhile, a spokesman for SK Engineering & Construction, a South Korean company with a stake in the project, told the BBC: "We believe parts of the upper part of dam were lost due to heavy rain fall, and water overflowed from the supply dam." | Meanwhile, a spokesman for SK Engineering & Construction, a South Korean company with a stake in the project, told the BBC: "We believe parts of the upper part of dam were lost due to heavy rain fall, and water overflowed from the supply dam." |
| Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding said in a statement that the dam operator and related agencies had helped local residents evacuate to temporary shelter. | Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding said in a statement that the dam operator and related agencies had helped local residents evacuate to temporary shelter. |
| It is not clear how much advance warning residents were given. | It is not clear how much advance warning residents were given. |
| How many people have been affected? | How many people have been affected? |
| It is not yet known, as there is no phone signal in the flooded areas. | |
| "We do not have any formal information yet about any casualties or how many are missing," a local Attapeu official told AFP news agency. | "We do not have any formal information yet about any casualties or how many are missing," a local Attapeu official told AFP news agency. |
| Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has postponed government meetings and gone to affected area in Sanamxay district to monitor relief efforts, state media said. | Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has postponed government meetings and gone to affected area in Sanamxay district to monitor relief efforts, state media said. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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: |