Laos dam collapse: Hair-raising footage shows CATASTROPHIC aftermath with HUNDREDS missing
LAOS was plunged into chaos on Monday after a hydroelectric dam collapsed in the Attapeu province, with flash flooding leaving hundreds missing and levelling entire villages.
Laos Dam collapse: Speed boat takes civilians to safety
At least 19 people died and thousands were left homeless after a hydroelectric dam in the Attapeu region of Laos collapsed causing flash floods.
Shocking footage captured in the area shows a speedboat travelling through a flooded village to bring people to safety.
The video shows homes have been completely engulfed by the powerful floods, leaving only the roofs visible above the water.
Official Lao news agency KPL reported that the Xepian-Xe Namnoy dam collapsed on Monday evening unleashing five billion cubic metres of water across the area.
The KPL report added that there were "several human lives claimes, and several hundreds of people missing."
The Laos dam had been under construction since 2013 with plans to export 90 percent of the energy produced to neighbouring Thailand.
An appeal for drinking water, food, clothing and medical supplies have been made.
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has postponed government meetings, state media said.
The hydropower dam, built by Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Power Company (PNPC) has long been the subject of controversy, with environmentalists voicing concerns about the dam's impact on the nearby Mekong river and the rural community.
Laos dam collapse: Rice fields and homes swamped by floods
Several human lives claimes, and several hundreds of people missing
Over the last decade, Laos committed to expanding its hydroelectric power to feed a flourishing sector. The country has 39 hydroelectric power plants and the Government has approved plans to build an additional 53.
South Korean SK Engineering & Construction, a company involved in the construction of the Laos dam, told Reuters it was "planning to help evacuate and rescue residents in villages near the dam."
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith postponed government meetings to travel to the affected area in the Sanamxay district to monitor relief efforts.
There is no phone signal in the area and officials still don’t know how many people have died.
The dam holds about one billion tonnes of water. It collapsed after heavy monsoon rains, with first waters escaping at about 8pm last night local time (2pm BST).