Victims of southern Lao dam disaster start to rebuild lives


Aerial view shows the flooded area after a dam collapsed in Attapeu province, Laos July 25, 2018 in this image obtained from social media. MIME PHOUMSAVANH/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC1D0F2EDC20
VIENTIANE, April 19 (Xinhua): Some of the families who lost their homes during the catastrophic flood that hit southern Laos' Attapeu province in July 2018 have moved into new houses and finally started to rebuild their lives.

Families have taken occupancy of 153 newly-built houses, while the construction of another 547 houses is underway, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Monday.

The houses were officially handed over on April 12 by Deputy Governor of Attapeu province Bounseut Setthilath. The remaining houses are expected to be complete by the end of 2021.

Following the collapse of a dam at the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower plant, some 560 km southeast of Lao capital Vientiane, homeless families were initially accommodated in tents and shelters before moving into the temporary housing in Sanamxay district.

The flood triggered by the dam collapse killed over 40 people with many more going missing while thousands of others were left homeless. Several villages were wiped out by the flood.

The dam has now been rebuilt in a different location and is more structurally sound after construction was supervised by specialist engineers from international energy companies.

All hydropower projects are currently under scrutiny by the government, with officials ordered to inspect all dams under construction and ensure their safety. - Laos

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