Lao dam collapse: 31 bodies found, 100 still missing
The rescue forces in Laos had found the bodies of 31 victims in the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam as of August 6, Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith revealed at an international press conference held in Vientiane on August 7.
The Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam collapsed on July 23, causing massive floods which completely isolated six villages in the Sanamxay district of Attapeu province (Source: EPA/VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) – The rescue forces inLaos had found the bodies of 31 victims in the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoihydropower dam as of August 6, Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasithrevealed at an international press conference held in Vientiane on August 7.
So far, 100 people remain unaccounted for, theminister said, adding that more than 6,000 people affected by the incident hadbeen arranged for temporary accommodations in Attapeu province.
He added that it would take many years for thecountry to address the serious consequences.
Therefore, the Lao government still needsassistance and sharing from other countries and non-governmental organisations,especially in searching and rescuing the missing, restoring and buildinginfrastructure in affected villages, providing food and necessities for thevictims, and preparing health equipment, medicines and ambulances, he said.
In the short term, the government will focus onarranging temporary accommodations for more than 6,000 people who wereseriously affected by the incident, then resettlement.
Minister of Energy and Mines Khammany Inthirathsaid the government is setting up an investigation committee to coordinate withinternational organisations to look into the dam collapse.
The committee will examine the quality of nearly50 hydropower dams which have been completed as well as the design of thoseunder construction, he said, adding that Laos will also establish a watermanagement board to keep track of the volume of water in lakes.
The Lao Government had decided to halt thesigning of the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Project DevelopmentAssistance (PDA) on hydropower nationwide to conduct further assessment andrevision, he added.
The Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam collapsed onJuly 23, causing massive floods which completely isolated six villages in theSanamxay district of Attapeu province.-VNA
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The Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam collapsed on July 23, causing massive floods which completely isolated six villages in the Sanamxay district of Attapeu province (Source: EPA/VNA) 
