Several people have been killed and hundreds are missing after a hydroelectric dam collapsed in southeastern Laos, releasing five billion cubic metres of water. The Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in Attapeu province collapsed on Monday evening, releasing large amounts of water and sweeping away houses, according to state media. The official news agency KPL said more than 6,600 people have been left homeless. Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Show all 15 1 /15 Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Lao villagers stranded on rooftops of houses after they had to evacuate them due to floodwaters after the Xe Pian Xe Nam Noy dam collapsed, in a village near Attapeu province in Laos EPA/ABC Laos News Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Hundreds of people were reported missing while several others were killed after the hydroelectric dam burst, causing heavy flash floods through several villages AFP/Getty Images Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Lao villagers evacuate on a boat EPA Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Villagers carry their belonging as they evacuate REUTERS Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Thousands of people have been left homeless and hundreds of households are submerged underwater AP Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Villagers inside a temporary shelter REUTERS Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages People sitting on a rooftop of a house surrounded by floodwaters AFP/Getty Images Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Lao military preparing for rescue efforts Getty/ABC Laos News Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Villagers take refuge on a rooftop above flood waters AP Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Villagers inside a temporary shelter REUTERS Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages An aerial view of the flooded plains in Attapeu province AFP/Getty Images Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Dogs take refuge on a rooftop AP Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Structures surrounded by floodwaters AFP/Getty Images Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages Villagers inside a temporary shelter REUTERS Laos dam collapse: broken hydroelectric power plant floods villages A villager takes refuge on a rooftop above flood waters AP Officials have called in boats to help evacuate people in the San Sai district as water levels rise following the collapse of the dam, ABC Laos news reported. A video posted by the news network on its Facebook page taken from a helicopter flying over the flooded region showed the roofs of submerged houses visible above the muddy water. Provincial authorities issued a call for emergency aid – clothing, food, drinking water, medicine, cash and other items – from the “party, government organisations, business community, officials, police and military forces and people of all strata”. Villagers were stranded on roofs after evacuating their homes after the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy dam collapsed in a village near Attapeu province (EPA/ABC Laos news) The dam was constructed by a joint venture led by South Korean companies, with Thai and Lao partners. The project, scheduled to begin operating this year, was still under construction, KPL reported. It described the portion which collapsed as a “saddle dam”, an auxiliary dam used to hold water beyond what is held by the main dam. The company building the dam said heavy rain and flooding caused the collapse and it was cooperating with the Laos government to help rescue villagers near the dam. Lao villagers stranded on a roof of a house after they evacuated floodwaters (EPA/ABC Laos news) “We are running an emergency team and planning to help evacuate and rescue residents in villages near the dam,” an SK Engineering and Construction spokesman told Reuters. The prime minister of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith, “suspended the planned monthly meeting of the government for August and led his cabinet members and other senior officials to Sanamxay [district] to monitor rescue and relief efforts being made for flood victims,” KPL said. Many areas of Laos have recently been hit by flooding from seasonal rains. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California.<doc-sep>UPDATED at 10:20 A.M. EDT on 2018-07-27 A high-ranking Lao official suggested Thursday that a dam collapse earlier this week in Champassak province was the result of faulty construction and said the project’s developer should be held accountable, as the death toll from flooding has reached 30, with more than 20 hospitalized for injuries. On the night of July 23, water poured over a saddle dam at the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy hydropower project in Champassak, sweeping away homes and causing severe flooding in up to 12 villages downstream in Champassak and neighboring Attapeu province. Despite early warnings of a possible breach due to heavy rainfall, many were left behind in their homes when “Saddle Dam D” collapsed, prompting questions about the evacuation process and what was known about the dam’s structural integrity before the disaster struck. On Thursday, Minister of Energy and Mines Khammany Inthirath told RFA’s Lao Service that the burst was caused by “heavy rainfall” and “construction technique.” “From July 21-23, there was heavy rainfall in the area and this caused water in the main reservoir to increase rapidly,” Khammany said. “It overloaded Saddle Dam D, which has a dike constructed of soil and stone, and combined with the rainfall, it finally burst on July 23,” he said. “The construction technique is one of the main causes of the collapse, because they built the dike … with soil and stones.” The U.S. $1.02 billion Xe Pian Xe Namnoy hydropower project involves Lao, Thai and South Korean partners and consists of two main dams and five subsidiary dams. On Wednesday, the project's main partner, South Korea's SK Engineering & Construction, said in a statement that the firm had discovered fractures in the dam 24 hours before the collapse, and had “immediately alerted the authorities and began evacuating villagers downstream.” Khammany told RFA that the saddle dam was “91 percent complete” and should only have been filled with water incrementally, but said the heavy rainfall had inundated the structure. “We can rule out technical fraud,” he said, adding that construction had proceeded according to “international standards.” When asked whether the developers had prepared for increased water capacity during the annual rainy season, the minister said that they had, but the amount of rainfall had surpassed expectations. “Some years it rains little and others it rains a lot—each storm is different in intensity,” he said. “But I am fairly certain that the construction technique for the dam was poor, which led to a collapse during heavy rainfall.” Earlier on Thursday, Khammany told reporters that the construction company should take full responsibility for the incident. “I confirm that compensation will be given according to the concession agreement,” he said. “Everything that happened is related to the dam construction, so the developer [Xe Pian Xe Namnoy Power Co. Ltd] must be held 100 percent accountable,” he added, without providing further details. Death toll rise Khammany’s assessment came as an official with the taskforce committee overseeing rescue operations in the region confirmed to RFA that the death toll from the collapse had risen to 30 on Thursday, with more than 20 people hospitalized with related injuries, as rain continued to blanket the area. On Wednesday, Laos’ Prime Minister Thonglun Sisoulit said in a televised news conference that 26 people had been confirmed dead and 131 were missing, though officials had earlier suggested that “hundreds” were missing in the aftermath of the collapse. The taskforce committee official, who spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday, said that the number of people living in villages along the Sekong River who may be impacted by the collapse could reach as many as 8,000. More than 600 villagers remain stranded in floodwaters, as rescue teams have had difficulty accessing certain areas of the remote region, he said, adding that efforts will be further hampered by mud and debris left behind after the waters recede. Vietnam has sent military and medical personnel to assist in rescue efforts, while Thailand has pledged around U.S. $150,000 in aid. Around a dozen Chinese rescue workers joined efforts on Thursday. Cambodians affected Along the Sekong River in downstream areas of Cambodia’s Stung Treng province, local authorities told RFA’s Khmer Service that around 5,000 flood victims had been relocated to four safe communes in the region, and were being provided food and medical attention. Provincial spokesman Men Kong said authorities were focusing on assisting victims and would later investigate whether to hold Lao authorities responsible for compensation related to inundation from the flooding, which he suggested could continue into next month. Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology said Thursday that the water level of the Sekong River is currently above 11 meters (36 feet) and is likely to reach 12 meters (39 feet) before it recedes. The rise of the river is expected to damage roads, housing, and other infrastructure in Stung Treng, it said. A flood victim in Stung Treng named Le Chy told RFA he is concerned that the flooding will destroy hundreds of hectares (1 hectare = 2.3 acres) of farmland and plantations, and seriously impact area residents if it continues. Dam-building spree Laos and many other Asian countries are on a dam-building spree as they try to harness the power of the Mekong and other rivers. While the Lao government sees power generation as a way to boost the country’s economy, the projects are still controversial for their environmental impact and financial arrangements. According to International Rivers, an environmental advocacy group, the current Lao hydropower development plan includes 72 new large dams, 12 of which are under construction and nearly 25 are in advanced planning stages. The Lao government says the dams will help pay for anti-poverty and other social welfare programs, but International Rivers asserts that much of the power generated by Laos is sold to neighboring countries and then resold to Laos at higher rates. Reported by RFA’s Lao Service and RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated from Lao by Ounkeo Souksavanh and Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Correction: An earlier version of the story misidentified the location of the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy hydropower project.<doc-sep>Laos dam collapse: Many feared dead as floods hit villages Published 24 July 2018 media caption Villagers seek refuge on roofs of submerged homes in 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. 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. Pictures showed villagers and young children stranded on the roofs of submerged houses. image copyright Reuters image caption The surge of water submerged homes and forced villagers to seek safety on this roof 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. 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 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: Sunday 21:00 local time (14:00 GMT) - The dam is found to be partially damaged. The authorities are alerted and villagers near the dam start to be evacuated. A team is sent to repair the dam - but is hampered by heavy rain, which has also damaged many roads. local time (14:00 GMT) - The dam is found to be partially damaged. The authorities are alerted and villagers near the dam start to be evacuated. A team is sent to repair the dam - but is hampered by heavy rain, which has also damaged many roads. Monday 03:00 - Water is discharged from one of the main dams (Xe-Namnoy dam) to try to lower water levels in the subsidiary dam. - Water is discharged from one of the main dams (Xe-Namnoy dam) to try to lower water levels in the subsidiary dam. Monday 12:00 - The state government orders villagers downstream to evacuate after learning that there could be further damage to the dam. - The state government orders villagers downstream to evacuate after learning that there could be further damage to the dam. Monday 18:00 - More damage is confirmed at the dam. - More damage is confirmed at the dam. By Tuesday 01:30, a village near the subsidiary dam is flooded, and by 09:30 seven villages are flooded. 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. "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. What is being done to help those affected? 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. 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. image copyright AFP/Getty Images image caption A huge area along the Xe Pian River south of the dam has been flooded Hydroelectric ambitions in Laos The government in Laos has launched an ambitious dam-building scheme to become the "battery of Asia" Laos sits on the Mekong River and its tributaries - a perfect location for hydroelectric power The country had 46 operational hydroelectric power plants in 2017, and 54 more under construction By 2020, Laos also plans to build 54 more electricity transmission lines and 16 substations Laos already exports two-thirds of its hydropower, with electricity making up roughly 30% of all Laotian exports Sources: Hydropower.org, the Laotian Times and Lao News Agency Related Topics Laos Hydroelectricity<doc-sep>Hundreds of people are missing and several are presumed dead after a hydropower dam collapsed in southeast Laos, state media reported. The 410 MW project, which is under construction, collapsed around 8 p.m. local time on Monday, releasing 5 billion cubic meters of water, according to the Lao News Agency. Several houses were reportedly swept away in the deluge, which prompted flash floods in several villages across Attapeu Province. The News Agency said the incident has claimed “several human lives” while “several hundreds of people” remain missing. An estimated 6,660 people were displaced by the floods. Local authorities have called for urgent aid supplies, including clothing, medicine, cash and drinking water. The $1.02 billion hydropower dam is being built by the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Power Company (PNPC), a joint venture between South Korean, Thai and Lao firms. The project began construction in 2013, and was expected to come online in 2018, exporting 90% of the electricity generated to Thailand, according to PNPC. Environmental groups have long cautioned Laos over dozens of hydropower projects slated along the Mekong River, which could sever a major artery for the region. Aiming to become the battery of Southeast Asia, Laos has laid out a hydropower development plan that includes 72 large projects, many of which target electricity exports rather than production for domestic usage. Get The Brief. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. Please enter a valid email address. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. Please attempt to sign up again. Sign Up Now An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Please try again later. Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thank you! For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. Write to Laignee Barron at Laignee.Barron@time.com.<doc-sep>
Laos Dam collapse: Speed boat takes civilians to safety Laos dam collapse: The dam was still under construction The hydropower dam in the Attapeu province collapsed late last night, according to local media. Laos News Agency reports that the accident in the San Sai district of the southeastern province of Attapeu has released 5,000 million cubic metres of water, or more than two million Olympic swimming pools. Boats have been brought in to help evacuate people as water levels rise, according to ABC Laos news, with several homes swept away. A video posted on the network's Facebook page shows villagers pausing to watch the fast-flowing water from the side of a river bank. It is unclear what caused the collapse. Here is the latest news and live updates. 10.51pm update: How many are missing after flash floods hit villages? Hundreds of people are missing and thousands have been displaced after a hydropower dam collapsed in southern Laos on Monday. The collapse sent 5 billon cubic metres of water through the San Sai district of Attapeu province, where the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam is located. More than 1,300 families - 6,600 people - have been left homeless as homes were washed away in the torrent. ABC Laos news reported: “The disaster has claimed several lives, left hundreds of people missing and more than 1,300 families homeless.” 9.28pm update: Death toll stands at 20 At least 20 people have been killed after the collapse of an under-construction dam in south-east Laos, the BBC reports. The Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam collapsed late on Monday and sent flash floods through six villages. The collapse released five billion cubic metres of water and swept away homes in the southern province of Attapeu, which lies along the country’s border with Vietnam and Cambodia. A volunteer emergency organisation, Vientiane Rescue, said the dam wall broke on Monday night after heavy monsoonal rains. The $1 billion project was to build two dams with five auxiliary dams used to hold water beyond what is held by the main dams. Another official of SK Engineering & Construction said the company ordered the evacuation of 12 villages as soon as it became clear that the dam could collapse. Later, the company said in a statement the upper part of the supply dam was lost by torrential rains on July 22 but its repair work did not go smoothly due to the rains and more portions of the dam were fractured and overflowed in the following day. The South Korean foreign ministry said in a text message to reporters that 50 workers of the company and three from Korea Western Power Co. who were stationed at the construction site had been evacuated. The dam collapsed at 8:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) on Monday, releasing 5 billion cubic metres of water and several hundred people are missing after homes were swept away, the Lao News Agency said. Laos dam collapse: People flee after extreme floods 7.53pm update: Dam collapse exposed “major risks” with dam designs International Rivers, a U.S.-based group that works to protect rivers and the rights of communities dependent on them, said the accident exposed "major risks" associated with some dam designs that cannot cope with extreme weather conditions. "Unpredictable and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent in Laos and the region due to climate change," the group told Reuters in an e-mail. "This also shows the inadequacy of warning systems for the dam construction and operations. The warning appeared to come very late and was ineffective in ensuring people had advance notice to ensure their safety and that of their families." 5.49pm update: Collapsed dam expected to open by 2019 Laos is landlocked but aims to become the “battery of Asia” by selling power to neighbours through a series of hydropower dams. Lao experienced one of its worst natural disasters in 2013 when five major monsoon storms hit in a period of three months, according to the ReliefWeb humanitarian information portal. It said that approximately 347,000 people were affected by severe flooding in that disaster. Environmental rights groups have for years raised concerns about Laos' hydropower ambitions, including worries over the impact of dams on the Mekong River, its flora and fauna and the rural communities and local economies that depend on it.