Dam Break in Northeast Laos Causes Heavy Losses For Locals, Builder
Heavy monsoonal rains in northeastern Laos ripped through a small one-megawatt hydropower dam in Xieng Khouang province’s Pek district earlier this week, causing extensive damage and flooding rice fields and property, local residents said Wednesday.
“Because of heavy rainfall and too much water, the dam couldn’t handle it, so it burst causing great losses and flooding 30 hectares (74 acres) of rice field and fish ponds,” said a villager who lives near the dam site.
Nearby Lad Boak village was completed flooded by the breach which occurred on Aug. 4, a second area resident said.
“This village has suffered a great loss,” said the man who declined to be named. “My parents’ two houses are badly damaged. Twenty-four families are most affected. Ten other homes and 30 hectares of rice fields are also flooded.”
