Several days after a hydropower dam collapsed in southeastern Laos, hundreds of villagers are struggling with its aftermath. The flash floods unleashed by the collapse of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam have so far killed 27 people, left 131 missing and more than 3,000 people stranded. These are official figures released till date. The actual toll could be much higher. Khok Kong Village, around 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the collapsed hydropower dam, lost several houses, rendering hundreds residents homeless. They have been evacuated to a nearby school. Remote villages in the Attapeu province, the southernmost part of Laos, are still submerged in muddy waters, paralyzing traffic around the area and obstructing rescue efforts. A little girl walks in the rain with a mat she picked up when water levels receded on Thursday. Two women take their belongings and move to a shelter. According to Laos officials, the dam collapse had affected the lives of 6,000 people in six villages, with more than 3,000 residents losing their homes. A couple wade through a street with their children. Many households have to move to safe shelters for fear of heavy rain and disease epidemics. Soldiers and rescue teams take a break in the afternoon. Weather stations in Laos have predicted heavy rain and gusty winds in the coming days. Therefore, rescue forces are racing against time to look for those still missing. Thousands of residents have been evacuated to schools in the downtown district to flee away. Each room is able to accommodate around 50 to 60 people and the… [Read full story]
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