Hanoi(VNA) – The National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue hasasked the Ministry of National Defence to join disaster relief efforts forvictims in the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam in Laos followingthe instruction of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The Ministry ofNational Defence has ordered the High Command of Military Region 5 to send morethan 100 military personnel and 9 vehicles of different types to Laos to aid those affected by the incident in Attapeu province.

According tothe committee, as of 4:00 pm of July 27, the High Command of Military Region 5has sent 450 million VND worth of aid supplies, including food and bottledwater, to Attapeu. The 15th military corps which is stationed in theCentral Highlands has provided 10 million LAK (1,186 USD) to assist survivorsin the province.

On July 27, ateam of military medical workers from Vietnam gave free health checkups andmedicine to 200 people living in the affected areas while Vietnamese armedforces of Military Region 5 coordinated with Lao authorities to search formissing people and direct traffic.

The CentralHighlands of Kon Tum has also donated 550 million VND (23,770 USD) in cash and 200 millionVND (8,644 USD) worth of relief supplies to the dam collapse victims.

On the sameday, the National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescueproposed to PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc to send supplies from the national reserve tohelp Laos overcome the aftermath of the disaster.

The Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam collapsed at8:00pm on July 23, causing flash floods which completely isolated Sanamxaydistrict. 

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said at apress conference on July 25 that the dam break had already ravaged 13 villagesand affected six others as the flood was still flowing. 

He told reporters that 587 families with 3,060people were made homeless, while 131 people were reported missing. 

Lao authorities confirmed that no Vietnamesecitizens were reported missing after the disaster. Some 15 households ofVietnamese citizens living in flooded area were evacuated to safe places.

The Sepien-Senamnoi hydroelectric power plant isbeing constructed by the Sepien-Senamnoi Power Company (PNPC), which is ajoint-venture of SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C), Korea WesternPower (KOWEPO), Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding (RATCH), and LaoHolding 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