Source: OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP)

Following the collapse of the Xepien-Xenamnoy hydropower dam on 23 July, eight villages downstream in Attapeu Province have been affected by flash floods. It has been reported that a number of people have died and many more are missing, although numbers are still being verified. Estimates suggest that up to 13,000 people have been affected by the floods, with 1,500 people evacuated from their homes with schools reportedly being used as evacuation centres. An initial disaster impact model developed by PDC, suggests that 4,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance.

On 23 July, the Xepian-Xenamnoy power company warned that a section of the dam that was under construction was likely to break, releasing five billion litres of water. The burst dam follows heavy rainfall caused by Tropical Storm Son Tinh on 18-19 July, which caused
flooding in ten provinces in north, central and south Lao PDR.

On 24 July, the Government declared the flood affected areas a National Disaster Area. In the areas affected by flooding as a result of the burst dam, roads have been destroyed, and access is only possible by boat or helicopter. The Government has deployed military and police to conduct search and rescue operations, and evacuate affected people;
foreign militaries from Thailand and Singapore have offered support but as of 25 July this offer had not been accepted by the Government.

Incident Command Posts have been set up by the Government in the affected districts to manage the situation. Key needs have been identified by the Government as family tents and family kits, hygiene kits, shelter repair kits. They have also made a request for boats. There is also a concern about access to clean water as water supply infrastructure has
reportedly been destroyed.

The Government has confirmed that it will not be requesting international assistance. Bilateral support will be assessed and accepted on a case-by-case basis. The Kingdom of
Thailand is sending relief items, including water, water purification units and blankets worth 5 million Thai Baht (THB), and is procuring items worth a further 20 million THB. ASEAN is planning to provide the relief items requested by the Government, and is discussing with the Malaysian Armed Forces to airlift these supplies from Subang. An ERAT
team will not be deployed.

ROAP is in contact with the Resident Coordinator’s Office, has offered capacity support to the RCO, remotely or in-country, including with coordination and IM, and has highlighted
the possibility to apply for an Emergency Cash Grant