A house submerged after Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam broke (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The burst in the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam in Laos on July 23 will have little impact on Vietnam’s MekongDelta region.
The Central Steering Committee for DisasterPrevention and Control in Hanoi released the information at a conference onJuly 25.
At the event, the committee detailed theincident, saying that prolonged downpours caused by Storm Son Tinh had worsenedflooding in many regions in Laos, bursting a dam at Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower reservoir in Sanamxaydistrict of Attapeu province at 8pm of July 23.
The dam collapse caused serious floods inlower areas, leaving more than 131 missing and 587 families with 3,060 people homeless, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said at apress conference on July 25. On July 24, the Lao governmentdeclared Sanamxay district an emergency disaster zone.
According to a report of the ASEANCoordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA), monsoonand rainfalls brought by Storm Son Tinh have affected 3,452 families in 349villages of 41 Lao districts, and destroyed more than 200 houses entirely.
However, the Southern Institute of WaterResources Research of Vietnam said this incident will not cause a big impact onthe Mekong Delta region, as flows from the dam collapse will only raise thewater level in the region by 7-10cm at the Tan Chau station on July 27-28.
The Central Steering Committee for DisasterPrevention and Control stressed the need to keep a close watch on the incident.
The Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower plant was being constructed by the Sepien-Senamnoi Power Company (PNPC).
PNPC is a joint venture between Republic ofKorea’s SK E&C and Korea Western Power, Thailand’s Ratchaburi ElectricityGenerating Holding, and Laos’ Holding Sate Enterprise.
The project, estimated to cost 1.02 billionUSD, is the first build-operate-transfer (BOT) model to be undertaken by Koreancompanies in Laos.-VNA
Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has sent a message of condolences to her Lao counterpart Pany Yathotou over the collapse of the Xe Pian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in Attapeu, Laos on July 23.
All Vietnamese citizens residing in areas affected by the collapse of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in Laos are unharmed, Vo Van Mung, Chairman of the Association of Overseas Vietnamese in Attapeu province, said quoting a report by local authorities.
The Xe Pian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in Laos burst at 8:00pm on July 23, causing flash floods in 10 low-lying villages and completely isolating Sanamxay district.
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said on July 25 that 131 people are still missing after the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam collapsed in southern Laos earlier this week.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
A house submerged after Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam broke (Source: VNA) 
