More villages in Savannakhet affected by floods

Several villages in Vilabouly district, Savannakhet province, are struggling to recover from floods that occurred after heavy rain lashed the area from July 22-25, caused by tropical storm Cempaka.
Some roads and bridges in the district are under water and impassable to traffic.
Provincial officials are carrying out inspections and gathering information about the extent of the damage, and will provide assistance to people whose homes have been inundated.
Heavy rain in recent days has caused the Xekong and Xebai rivers to overflow their banks, while marshland has also flooded, with the floodwaters covering farmland and partly submerging houses, the Vilaboury News reported on July 25.

Vilabouly district Governor Mr Khamphouy Sibounheuang and district authorities have visited some of the people whose homes have been flooded.
He warned everyone to be prepared for weather extremes, saying people living on riverbanks should move their belongings and animals to safe places and keep track of forecasts issued by the Meteorology and Hydrology Department.
Tropical storm Cempaka also hit Khammuan province, where authorities in many districts have warned residents about rising river levels and advised people to move to higher ground.
The Deputy Governor of Mahaxay district, Mr Sengchan Samounty, told Vientiane Times on Monday that Bualapha, Yommalath, Mahaxay and Xaybangfay districts were at risk of flooding because of rising river levels.
The Mekong River was at 7.2 metres on July 26, which is well below the warning level of 13 metres and the danger level of 14 metres.
However, the Xebangfay River in Bualapha district is higher at 12.13 metres, but below the warning level of 14 metres and the danger level of 15 metres. In Yonmalath district the river is 11.9 metres high, below the warning level of 12.5 metres and the danger level of 13 metres. In Mahaxay district the river is higher at 13.56 metres, just below the warning level
of 14 metres and the danger level of 15 metres. In Nongbok district the river is currently 12.46 metres high, but below the warning level of 13.5 metres and the danger level of 14.5 metres.
The Pakan River in Hinboun district is 10.92 metres high, above the warning level of 10 metres but below the danger level of 11 metres.
Some farmland in Xaybangfay district is under water but fortunately there are no reports of houses being flooded, Mr Sengchan said. Authorities in every district are keeping people informed about river levels and warning them to be prepared for flooding.
In Luang Namtha province, Luang Namtha, Long and Viengphoukha districts suffered flooding after tropical storm Cempaka lashed the province on July 19-21.
A 60-year-old man living in Huayleuad village, Luang Namtha district, died after being buried in a landslide following heavy rain.
Several hundred hectares of farmland in Luang Namtha, Long and Viengphoukha districts are under water and about 14 houses were swept away by floodwaters.
In Luang Prabang, many areas of the provincial capital have also been flooded following heavy rain dumped by tropical storm Cempaka.
Last month, Xayaboury, Xieng Khuang, Bokeo and Vientiane provinces all experienced flooding, with Xayaboury being the hardest hit area.
Households in 56 villages of Xayaboury province were affected and almost 20 houses were swept away by floodwaters, with losses estimated at more than 94 billion kip.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update July 27, 2021)