Weekend deluge inundates Xayaboury communities
Villages in many districts of Xayaboury province have been hit hard by floods following two days of widespread heavy rain across the northwest of the country.
The districts of Xayaboury, Botaen, Kaenthao Khop and Ngeun bore the brunt of the flooding with the low-lying villages of Simeuang, Nayao, Nongsaeng and Nator in Xayaboury district particularly suffering from the inundation.
Over 200 houses and more than 1,000 people were impacted in villages of Xayaboury district, according to local authorities.
An official of Xayaboury provincial Labour and Social Welfare Department, Mr Khamphone Lienvilaysack told Vientiane Times on Monday that
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government personnel, police, soldiers and volunteers from the public were working to assist around 10 households which were severely affected by the weekend’s flooding.
“Many homes were flooded, but these single-storey houses were swamped up to the roofs, and Xayaboury province is working to provide the families with food and water,” he said.
Throughout much of Monday, the main waterway in Xayaboury district, the Houng River, was hovering around 6 metres with little rain recorded in the province’s urban area.
Mr Khamphone said authorities were continually monitoring the water level as additional rain would most likely cause more flooding.
Currently, the main roads in town were open to traffic and most people were able to access electricity except for the worst-hit villages where authorities were working to restore power, he added.
Xayaboury was lucky to miss last year’s floods that overwhelmed numerous provinces across the nation. Nevertheless, flooding is not something new to residents of the region.
Last month, Nam Eng villagers in Viengphoukha district, Luang Namtha province were also hit by a devastating flash flood. In response, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has provided cash and emergency relief materials.
The Meteorology and Hydrology Department issued a warning for heavy rain and strong winds from July 31 to August 4 which could lead to flooding in many provinces of Laos. Meanwhile, Thailand’s neighbouring Loei province also reported severe impacts from the weekend heavy rains and flooding.
By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
(Latest Update August 4, 2020) |