Death Toll Reaches 23, 108 Still Missing after Dam Collapsed in Laos

 

VIENTIANE – Another 10 bodies have been recovered on Thursday and Friday, bring the death toll of the dam collapse in Laos to 23, Lao rescue authorities announced on Friday.

Five of the 23 confirmed dead are children, while 108 others remained missing, the authorities said during a press conference held in Sanamxay district of Attapeu Province.

Ounla Xayasith, Deputy Governor of Attapeu Province, said the government is now arranging some villagers living in several shelters to live in tents and semi-permanent residence are being built for flood-affected villagers.

The deputy governor also mentioned that government will initially give per family some 500,000 kip (59.1 U.S. dollars) as relief.

Now, some 200 Lao military personnel are searching for the missing in the disaster-hit area, according to an officer at the press conference.

An under-construction saddle dam of the Xe Pian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower project, invested by South Korean, Thai and Lao companies, collapsed on July 23, unleashing a large amount of water to hit some 13 villages of Sanamxay district.

By Li Xia