VFF President extends sympathy over Laos’ dam collapse
Tran Thanh Man, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, on July 25 sent a message of sympathy to President of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Xaysomphone Phomvihane over the collapse of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in the Lao province of Attapeu on July 23.
The collapse of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam caused flash flooding in 10 villages in lower areas and completely isolated Sanamxay district. (Source: Attapeu Today)
Hanoi (VNA) –Tran Thanh Man, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) CentralCommittee, on July 25 sent a message of sympathy to President of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Xaysomphone Phomvihane over the collapse of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in the Laoprovince of Attapeu on July 23.
The Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam burstat 20:00 on July 23, releasing 5 billion cu.m of water which caused flashflooding in 10 villages in lower areas and completely isolated Sanamxaydistrict. Five out of Sanamxay district’s villages, namely May, Hinlath,NhaytheSanong Tay, Thasengchan and Thahin, were entirely submerged.
The disaster has left at least 18 dead andabout 200 people missing, and made over 1,300 families with 6,600 peoplehomeless.
The Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower plant isbeing constructed by the XePian-XeNamnoy Power Company (PNPC).
The PNPC is a joint venture between Republic of Korea’s SK E&C and KoreaWestern Power, Thailand’s Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding and LaoHolding Sate Enterprise.
The project, estimated to cost 1.02 billion USD, is the firstBuild-Operate-Transfer (BOT) one to be undertaken by Korean companies in Laos.
On July 24, Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding issued a press releaseannouncing that unexpected heavy rains caused the dam to collapse.
High volumes of rainwater fractured the dam and caused a deluge in thedownstream area of Xe-Pian River, it said.-VNA
Top leaders of Vietnam have expressed sympathy with their Lao counterparts over the great losses in humans and property caused by the collapse of Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in the Lao province of Attapeu on July 23.
The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C), one of the builders of the Xepian Xe-Namnoy hydropower dam of Laos, said on July 24 that it has formed a crisis management team to respond to the dam collapse.
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The collapse of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam caused flash flooding in 10 villages in lower areas and completely isolated Sanamxay district. (Source: Attapeu Today) 
