VIENTIANE: The north of Laos has taken the brunt of storm Yagi, which was previously categorised as a typhoon but weakened to a tropical depression after passing over Vietnam.
The storm reached Laos on Monday (Sept 9) and provincial authorities, soldiers and businesses are now helping with recovery efforts.
Many villages in Luang Namtha province have been affected by flooding since heavy rainfall that began on Sept 7.
One man died after being swept away in a river and another person is missing.
On Tuesday (Sept 10), military personnel used four planes and 14 boats to help families whose homes were flooded.
A provincial official, Major General Inkeo Manichan, said medicine, clothing, food, drinking water and boats are all urgently needed to help with the rescue effort.
Some people have taken to rooftops to stay above the water level after rivers overflowed and are stranded because small boats cannot reach them, he said.
Several hospital patients have been moved to safety while many other people are in need of assistance.
Heavy rainfall also caused landslides and uprooted large trees in some places.
In Sing district, the Namtha River is still rising and water and electricity supplies have been disrupted, the Luang Namtha television station reported yesterday.
In Xayaboury province, some roads in Hongsa district became impassible on Monday after heavy rain but are being cleared so traffic can get through.
The storm also caused flooding and landslides in Pha Oudom district, Bokeo province, where large areas of farmland were affected and some roads were cut off, while people moved to higher ground to stay safe.
Flooding and landslips also occurred in 11 villages of Namor district in Oudomxay province, where power outages were also experienced, according to the Pathetlao Daily newspaper.
The Meteorology and Hydrology Department issued a weather alert last week ahead of the storm.
On Tuesday the department forecast that heavy rain will continue in central and northern Laos until Wednesday (today), with more flooding and landslides possible.
Everyone should be prepared for weather extremes and members of the public should follow forecasts through newspapers, radio and television or visit the Meteorology and Hydrology Department’s Facebook page and prepare for extreme conditions if necessary. - Vientiane News/ANN
