ReliefWeb

Highlights

• Heavy rainfall over past few days in Attapeu Province has resulted in dangerously high river and dam levels.

• An incident at the Xepien-Xenamnoy Hydropower dam construction in Attapeu province resulted in flash flooding, with eight villages affected.

  1. Ban Mai

1. Ban HinLath

2. Ban ThaSengchan

3. Ban Thahintai

4. Ban Sanong

5. Ban Thae

6. Ban Phonsa-ath

7. Ban Nongkhae

• The Government has declared the affected areas as National Disaster Area. Response activities are underway.

• UN agencies will continue to source information from all channels to assess the scale of impacts as well as continue close contact with the National Disaster Management Office for updates and to identify areas of support.

Situation Overview

• Heavy rainfall caused by Tropical Storm Son Tinh on 18-19 July 2018 has caused flooding in the provinces of Attapeu, Savanhnakhet, Khammouane, Xayabouli, Bolikhamxay, Luangprabang, Bokeo, Sekong, Xiengkhoang and Oudomxay.

• On 24 July 2018, a huge amount of water overflowed the construction site of the Xepien- Xenamnoy hydropower dam, causing a flashflood through eight villages downstream.

  • Ban Mai

• Ban HinLath

• Ban ThaSengchan

• Ban Thahintai

• Ban Sanong

• Ban Thae

• Ban Phonsa-ath

• Ban Nongkhae

• The flash floods have caused severe impacts on Housing, Property and Livelihoods. Based on Government information this includes:

  • 20 Houses were totally damaged

• 223 Houses were partly damaged

• 14 Bridges were damaged

• Roads were damaged

• Paddy fields were flooded in many areas

• Impacts on human lives include:

  • 41 affected Districts

• 357 affected villages

• 3,747 affected Families

• At least 5 people killed and 34 missing

• Over 324 families (around 1,494 people) evacuated and registered to stay at temporary emergency shelters.

• Impacts on Lifelines and Public Infrastructures include the following:

  • Clean water systems were cut off.

• In Attapeu province, helicopter and boat are the only means of transportation in the affected areas. The road system is disconnected.

• Schools in the safe areas are being used as evacuation centres.

• Based on the primary assessment conducted by the Government, the following immediate needs have been identified:

  • Tents for emergency shelter for 1,300 families

• Family kits for 1,300 families

• Personal Hygiene Kits for 6,000 people

• Housing repair kits

• Filed Office with operations system and support equipment

• Reports on 23 July from the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company indicated that Saddle Dam D was unsafe due to heavy rainfall, with water overflowing the dam wall, and that if the dam broke, over five billion tons of water would flow downstream of Xe-Pian River. The report requested the evacuation of everyone downstream Xe-Pian River to higher ground.