Danger zone: People riding off from ferries along the Mekong in Phnom Penh. — AFP
Villages along the Mekong River and its main tributaries in Laos have been warned to be alert for rising water levels following torrential rainfall in recent days, with people in low-lying areas advised to be prepared for floods.
The Lao Meteorology and Hydrology Department said the Mekong and its main tributaries are currently well below the official warning level but waters are expected to rise following more rainfall in the coming days, local daily Vientiane Times reported yesterday.
According to an update issued by the department on Wednesday, the level of the Mekong River in Vientiane has risen to 9.41m, which is below the warning level of 11.50m and the danger level of 12.50m.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines of Laos has recently also been informing people living alongside some rivers to watch out for the reservoir water discharged from upstream hydroelectric dams in the country and the neighbouring countries.
The ministry instructs people living near the river to prepare for a possible emergency situation, the Lao daily reported yesterday. — Xinhua
