Authorities in Khammuan province help people affected by floods on Aug 4. - VT
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Landslides crushed about 10 vehicles and pushed more cars into a ravine along a stretch of the National Highway No 8 between Khoun district in Khammuan province and Borikhamxay province on Aug 4, officials said.
The landslides were triggered by heavy rains over the past few days, and more than 70 people and about 50 vehicles are trapped on the highway. The exact number of vehicles pushed down the ravine is yet to be ascertained.
Provincial authorities have rescued more than 20 children and elderly people. They have also provided food and drinking water to the stranded people, the Khammuan News reported on August 5.
The landslides occurred after heavy rainfall over many days, which also caused floods in many villages in several districts of Khammuan province.
Khounkham district has been hit by heavy floods, and about 12,767 people living in 14 villages, or almost half the population in the district, have been affected by the flooding.
The provincial authorities are now racing up to help them.
In Hinboun district, more than 180 houses and hundreds of hectares of farmlands in four villages have been affected by the floods. Several roads were cut off by the flood waters, stopping travel between villages. The electricity and telecommunication networks too were disrupted by the floods.
Authorities of Khammuan province, led by the Governor Mr Vanxay Phongsavanh, have sped up efforts to help the people in Hinboun district.
The authorities provided food, drinking water and medicines worth more than 19 million kip to the affected on Aug 3.
The authorities are also assessing the impact of the floods on the road between Xebangfay and Nongbok districts, especially the stretch along the banks of Xebangfay River, so that help can be provided to the affected people.
On Aug 4, the Meteorology and Hydrology Department warned the residents of Huaphan, Xieng Khuang, Xaysomboun, Borikhamxay, Khammuan and Vientiane provinces to be on alert for landslides and flooding due to by heavy rainfall.
Borikhamxay province’s Public Works and Transportation Department announced the temporary closure of National Highway No 8 (running through the Phou Pha Man and Phou Hai mountainous areas) from August 4 until further notice.
