As the KPL agency reports, the under construction Nam Ao hydropower dam burst on September 11, 2017, causing serious flooding in the surrounding areas.
The 12 MW dam is located in Phaxay district, Xieng Khuang Province of Laos and was by 85% complete before the incident occurred. Many farmlands have been flooded in Thathom district, Xaysomboun Province, but no injuries or deaths have been reported. Locals were moved to higher ground, for safety reasons.
A road connecting Phaxay district with the nearby Paksan district in Borikhamxay Province has been cut off due to flooding. Officials from the Laos Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment are investigating the causes of the disaster and are estimating damages. Construction of the project was ongoing since 2015, by the Thong Inter Company.
Footage capturing the flooding caused by the dam failure is available in the video that follows.
Source: KPL (Laos News Agency)
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