Attapeu (VNA) – As of midday on July 27, search teamshad rescued 72 families with 413 people from flooded areas caused by thecollapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam in Attapeu province’s Sanamxaydistrict, in Laos.

The Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam burst at 8pm on July 23,releasing 5 billion cubic metres of water which caused flash floods in 10low-lying villages and completely isolating Sanamxay district. Four days afterthe incident, the water began receding.  

Most of the rescued people were found in the six completelysubmerged villages of Sanamxay. They are now in good health and are staying inthe Sanamxay administrative centre.

More people are being brought out of the flooded areas.

At a press conference on July 25, Lao Prime MinisterThongloun Sisoulith said 131 people were missing after the dam collapsed. Healso said 587 families with 3,060 people have been made homeless.

Police and military forces, as well as other rescueorganisations, have been mobilised for the search, according to Bongsak, who isvice head of the battle office of the Attapeu’s Military Affairs Section. Onthe ground, hundreds of rescuers from various forces have used canoes, boats,and ships to scour flooded areas. In addition, search and rescue forces fromThailand and the Republic of Korea also used individual dinghies to search innarrow areas and forests. Helicopters have been mobilised in the past two daysto look for missing persons.

Also on July 27, the Republic of Korea (RoK) decided to aidthe Lao efforts with 500,000 million USD in cash and necessities worth 500,000USD, including blankets and personal hygiene kits, among others.

The RoK said a team of 15 doctors and five search and rescuepersonnel will arrive in Laos on July 27.

Meanwhile, the SK group has committed 10 million USD to helpLaos overcome the consequences of the dam collapse.

Chairman of SK group Chay Tae-won made the commitment duringa reception for the Lao Ambassador to the RoK on July 27. The SK Engineeringand Construction (SK E&C) is a partner in the Sepien-Senamnoi Power Company(PNPC), which is building the Sepien-Senamnoi hydroelectric power plant.

Korean Air Lines also said it would deliver 36,000 litres ofmineral water and 2,000 blankets to Laos. The goods were scheduled to reach DaNang, Vietnam on July 27 before being transferred to Attapeu. 

Construction of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydroelectric powerproject began in February 2013 and commercial operations were originallyexpected to begin this year.

The Sepien-Senamnoi Power Company (PNPC) is a jointventure formed in March 2012 by SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C),Korea Western Power (KOWEPO), Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding (RATCH),and Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE). –VNA