Laos dam collapse floods villages, leaves 26 dead and 131 missing

pakse — Rescuers were searching on Wednesday for villagers left missing when part of a newly built dam broke in southeastern Laos, flooding the surrounding countryside and killing at least 26 people.

More than 6,000 people lost their homes when the dam gave way on Monday, flooding surrounding villages.

Hundreds took shelter in nearby towns, travelling by bus and trucks and sleeping on plastic sheeting.

“The water came so quick we just left the house and ran away,” said Phon Vuongchonpu, whose family of 12 fled as the floodwater rose to roof-level. “We’ve lost everything: motorbike, furniture our cows and pigs.”

The prime minister of Laos said 131 people had been “reported missing” following a dam collapse in the country’s south. “All of the missing are Lao nationals,” Thongloun Sisoulith told a press conference, giving his first public update on the disaster that has killed at least 26 people. Photos and videos showed people sitting on rooftops to escape the surging water, while others were carried to safety or rescued by boat.

One of five auxiliary earth-fill dams at the project began visibly weakening on Friday, said Korea Western Power, one of two South Korean partners in the hydroelectric project. SK Engineering & Construction, the other Korean joint venture partner, said the top of the dam was swept away as workers were struggling to control the damage amid heavy rain. —