Laos dam collapse in pictures: Tragic images as dam collapses in Laos – several dead

Laos News Agency said the accident happened at the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in southeastern Attapeu province’s Sanamxay district on Monday. 

The collapse released more than five billion cubic metres of water, which is more than two million Olympic swimming pools. 

Thousands of homes are reportedly destroyed in neighbouring villages of Yai Thae, Hinland, Mai, Thasengchan, Tha Hin and Samong, due to flooding. 

KPL News Agency reported several people have been confirmed dead and more than 6,600 are now homeless. 

Laos News Agency added there were “several human lives claimed, and several hundreds of people missing.”

Boats are said to have been brought in to help evacuate people as water levels continue to rise, according to ABC Laos news. 

A number of houses were also swept away in the southern part of the district.

Officials in the province have put out a call for relief aid for flood victims. 

The area that collapsed is known as a “saddle dam”.

This is an auxiliary dam used to hold water beyond what gets held by the main dam. 

Several dams are being built in Laos, which exports most of its hydropower energy to neighbouring countries such as Thailand. 

This particular $1.2 billion dam is part of a project by Vientiane-based Xe Pian Xe Namnoy Power Company, a joint venture formed in 2012.

The dam, with a 410 megawatt capacity, was expected to start commercial operations by 2019. 

The project was going to export 90 per cent of its electricity to Thailand, while the rest would have been offered up on the local grid. 

Some of the other countries involved in the project are Thailand’s Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, as well as South Korea’s Korea Western Power and the state-run Lao Holding State Enterprise.