Floods batter six provinces; losses hit 60 billion kip
This year's monsoon has inflicted its usual toll on Laos, with six provinces seriously affected by flooding and the cost of damage estimated at more than 60 billion kip, according to the National Disaster Management Office.
Office Head Mr Vilayphong Sisomvang told Vientiane Times yesterday that the provinces of Khammuan, Borikhamxay, Vientiane, Xayaboury, Xieng Khuang and Oudomxay were suffering in the wake of heavy downpours. Borikhamxay is the worst affected province, with damages estimated at 28 billion kip, while Xayaboury is thought to have sustained losses of 23 billion kip.
Mr Vilayphong said floods had affected 13,336 families of 62,304 people in 213 villages in 18 districts. Two people in Borikhamxay and Oudomxay provinces have died and one person in Khammuan was reported missing.
“This is the information we have from initial reports received from June to August, which we submitted to the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare a few days ago.”
“We're now working with the sectors concerned as well as local authorities to monitor the situation and collect more details so that we can prepare a relief plan to submit to the government,” he added.
The local authorities have some emergency funds at their disposal and are currently helping those people in need.
Mr Vilayphong said that compared to the same period last year, this year had seen a lot more damage because in 2012 only the provinces of Xayaboury and Luang Prabang experienced flooding.
“ This year we have had 11 tropical storms and 10 more are expected during the monsoon period,” Head of the Weather Forecasting and Aeronautical Meteorology Division, Mr Vandy Duangmala, said yesterday.
He predicted that there would be another storm this month.
About 26 to 28 tropical storms occur in the region each year, with 30 being the highest number that could be expected. However, it is very unlikely for this to happen.
By Times Reporters (Latest Update August 16, 2013)
