Lao PDR: Floods and Landslides - Aug 2023

Steady rains since 31 July have affected thousands of families and inundated hundreds of hectares of farmland in the central Lao province of Savannnakhet. About 5,200 families across 28 villages and 200 hectares of farmland Savannnakhet’s Atsaphon district have been affected. The Lao Meteorology and Hydrology Department forecasts continuation of rains in the central and southern provinces and warned the people along Xechamphone River in Savannakhet and across valleys in Khammuan province for further flooding and landslides over the next 2 days. Provincial authorities are mobilising resources and preparing to assist the affected population. (ECHO, 4 Aug 2023)

The southwest monsoon brings heavy rainfall over Lao PDR resulting in flooding and landslides incident since 4 August 2023. According to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), a flood warning due to the southwest monsoon has been issued since 1 August regarding water levels across Lao PDR. [...] As of the reports on 9 August, 13,777 households were affected over 417 villages in Vientiane Capital, Huaphanh, Xayaboury, Xiengkhuang, Vientiane, Borikhamxay, Khammuane, Savannakhet, Champasack, and Xaysomboon Provinces in Lao PDR. According to the reports, there are estimated of 50.7% of the total affected population are women. 6 persons dead (4 in Xaysomboon and 2 in Borikhamxay) and 1 person missing. 231 houses, 3 health centres, 3 schools, 94 roads, 5 bridges, and 225 other facilities were damaged. [...] According to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department’s weekly weather forecast, Lao PDR is likely to continue to experience light to moderate rain, with possible landslides and flash floods along river banks. (AHA Centre, 9 Aug 2023)

Widespread flooding and landslides caused damages to 183,950.35 hectors of agriculture, 67 roads, 67 irrigation systems, 3 district hospitals, 3 schools, and 110 vehicles. The estimated cost of damages was 19,199,305,000 LAK (equivalent 857,422 CHF). Provinces hit hardest include Borikhamxay and Khammuan. Due to heavy rainfall, a section of the Mekong River embankment in Vientiane collapsed, causing flooding in low-lying farmlands. (IFRC, 16 Aug 2023)

According to updated information from the government report, which was released on 21 August 2023, [...] it was estimated that 22,024 families, comprising 110,120 individuals (including an estimated 55,170 females), residing in 550 villages across 50 districts within 12 provinces, including Vientiane Capital, Bokeo, Luang Prabang, Houaphan, Xaignabouli, Xiangkhouang, Vientiane, Bolikhamxai, Khammouan, Savannakhet, Champasak, and Xaixomboun, were affected. There were six people lost their lives , and one person is missing due to the flooding. [...] Furthermore, the flood and landslides caused damage of agriculture 190,467 hector, Barn 106 (storage to stock rice), 18,776 loss of livestock, 154 road to become impassable, 79 irrigations didn’t function, 10 schools, 3 district hospitals, 225 toilets, 12 electric poles, 310 vehicles. [...] Vulnerable individuals especially children under five years old face risks of malnutrition due to loss of crops, rice storage, damage to plantations and food sources. (IFRC, 18 Sep 2023)