Houses in Phonphay village, Saravan district, Saravan province, Laos were damaged by Tropical Storm Conson. VIENTIANE TIMES
Authorities in several provinces of Laos are speeding up the delivery of relief aid to help people affected by Tropical Storm Conson that passed over the country on September 11 and flooding at least 70 houses.
Nine people have been injured and an elderly woman died in the southern province of Saravan.
Saravan provincial official Phitsamai Khemvailay said authorities had been carrying out rescue and relief efforts, including the provision of food and drinking water, moving items from flooded houses, and helping people in Phonphay village, Saravan district, to move to safety.
The government and several companies have provided essential items such as drinking water and food, kitchen utensils and electrical equipment worth more than 80 million kip ($8,400) to people who have been affected by the floods, the Saravan newspaper reported on September 13.
Phitsamai said the situation is problematic because the electricity supply has been cut, but provincial authorities are doing what they can to help.
Several villages in Kaenthao district, Xayaboury province, were also flooded on September 9-10 after many hours of heavy rain, making it the third time this year that district authorities have had to come to the aid of local residents.
Houses, farmland, bridges and roads were affected and travel is now very difficult. Authorities in the area will provide further updates on the situation as more information becomes available.
In Champasak province – which borders Cambodia’s Preah Vihear and Stung Treng provinces – Pathoumphone district also suffered flooding when tropical storm Conson passed over the area on September 12.
More detailed information will be provided when the extent of the damage is known, the Laophatthana newspaper reported on Facebook.
The Meteorology and Hydrology Department issued a weather alert for the tropical storm, saying it would pass over the southern and central provinces on September 11-13, while on September 13-15 it will move across the central and northern provinces bringing thunderstorms, rain and squalls, while flooding and landslides are also possible.
People living in mountainous areas and on riverbanks should prepare to move their belongings and animals to safe places in the event of flooding and should keep track of weather forecasts. Everyone should be prepared for weather extremes at this time of the year and several areas of the country have already suffered extensive flooding this rainy season.
VIENTIANE TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
