Hundreds missing in Laos hydropower dam collapse
Enough water to fill more than 2-million Olympic swimming pools was released in the potentially deadly accident
Bangkok — Hundreds of people are missing and an unknown number are believed dead after the collapse of a hydropower dam under construction in southeast Laos, state media reported Tuesday. Officials have brought boats to help evacuate people in San Sai district of Attapeu province, where the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam is located, as water levels rise after the collapse, ABC Laos news reported. The company building the dam said heavy rain and flooding had caused the collapse, and it was co-operating with the Laos government to help rescue villagers near the dam. "We are running an emergency team and planning to help evacuate and rescue residents in villages near the dam," an SK Engineering & Construction spokesman told Reuters by telephone. Communist Laos is traversed by a vast network of rivers. Several dams are being built or are planned in the impoverished and landlocked country, which exports most of its hydropower energy to neighbouring countries such as Thailand. Laos News...
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