Laos to work with RoK, Thailand to probe into dam collapse
The Lao Government will work with countries whose companies are stakeholders in the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower project to investigate the cause of the dam break, said Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on July 29.
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Lao Government will work with countrieswhose companies are stakeholders in the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower project toinvestigate the cause of the dam break, said Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on July29.
“Thegovernment of the Lao PDR will cooperate with the governments of countrieswhose companies have been registered to address this issue,” the VientianeTimes quoted PM Thongloun Sisoulith as saying when he visited the Ministry ofLabour and Social Welfare to witness the donation of relief supplies.
He pledgedthat the government will intensively investigate to find out the true cause ofthe dam break, saying the investigation would take place in a transparent andjust manner, the Laos-based newspaper reported.
The design, the construction contractor, and the consulting companies will alsobe investigated, he noted, adding that the Lao Government will also look intothe responsibilities of the authorities
The Laoleader affirmed that his government, with support and assistance from allsectors, friendly countries and international organisations, would do itsutmost to search for and rescue those who were still missing. It will also doits best to provide relief assistance and rehabilitate those who had losthouses and other property as well as rebuilding their communities to enable themto return to a normal life, he said.
The Sepien-Senamnoi hydropowerdam collapsed at 8:00pm on July 23, causing massive flooding which completelyisolated six villages in Sanamxay district of Attapeu province.
Some 587 families with 3,060 people were reportedly made homeless, while morethan 100 people were still unaccounted for.
The 410 MW capacity hydropower plant is being constructed by theSepien-Senamnoi Power Company (PNPC), which is a joint-venture of SK Engineeringand Construction (SK E&C) and Korea Western Power (KOWEPO) from theRepublic of Korea, Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding (RATCH) fromThailand, and Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE).
Construction of the project, which is estimated to cost 1.02 billion USD, beganin February 2013 and commercial operations were expected to begin thisyear.–VNA
As of midday on July 27, search teams had rescued 72 families with 413 people from flooded areas caused by the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam in Attapeu province’s Sanamxay district, in Laos.
Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) on July 27 offered 1 billion VND (43,000 USD) to help Lao people overcome difficulties and stabilise their lives after the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam.
The National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue has asked the Ministry of National Defence to join disaster relief efforts for victims in the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam in Laos following the instruction of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Lao authorities have warned that spreading fake news and photos of the crumbling of the dam collapse disaster in southern Laos violates the country’s laws.
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Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
