Laos temporarily bans activities in broken dam’s vicinity
The vicinity of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam project in Attapeu province is a temporarily prohibited area, and no organisations or individuals are allowed to enter this area without permissions from the government or local administration, the Lao Prime Minister’s Office announced on August 3.
People evacuate from a flooded area after the dam in Attapeu province broke (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) –The vicinity of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam project in Attapeu province isa temporarily prohibited area, and no organisations or individuals are allowedto enter this area without permissions from the government or localadministration, the Lao Prime Minister’s Office announced on August 3.
The announcement also said that Attapeu andneighbouring Champasak province are responsible for monitoring, examining andtemporarily prohibiting all activities until the investigation and settlementof the dam collapse finish.
Additionally, the Ministry of Energy and Minesof Laos was requested to coordinate with relevant sides to promptly considerand propose the establishment of a board for probing into the cause and impactof the incident and seeking settlement measures.
At about 8pm of July 23, the Sepien-Senamnoihydropower dam burst, flooding 10 villages in downstream areas and completelyisolating Sanamxay district, where it is located. The collapse has affectedmore than 1,300 families with 6,600 people and made many others missing.
The Lao Government is coordinating with domesticand foreign working groups to address the aftermath and support affected residents.–VNA
The Lao Government will work with countries whose companies are stakeholders in the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower project to investigate the cause of the dam break, said Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on July 29.
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People evacuate from a flooded area after the dam in Attapeu province broke (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
