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Flooding cuts electricity in Luang Prabang

Vientiane Times, By Somsack Pongkhao (Latest Update August 15, 2008)

Electricity has been cut in the world heritage town of Luang Prabang after the Mekong River burst its banks and flooded parts of the city, a senior official said yesterday.

Luang Prabang Anti-Flooding Committee Head, Mr Khampheng Saysompheng, said three of the villages without electricity were in the world heritage zone.

“More than 100 families have no electricity now,” Mr Khampheng said.

“But they have gas and charcoal to cook with and are using candles for lighting their houses in place of electricity,” he said.

About 236 families have been moved to higher ground where local authorities have provided them with tents, food and clean water.

More than 400 hectares of rice fields had been flooded, including 72 hectares which was damaged, according to Mr Khampheng, who is also the Deputy Governor of Luang Prabang.

A number of dikes have been damaged and Road Number 13 North to Vientiane has been cut off due to a landslide.

“We don't have enough gasoline for use in our town at the moment and that is having a large impact on the provincial economy,” he said.

But he said the price of food in markets remained manageable and the province had prepared a plan to revive the local economy.

The water level of the river at Luang Prabang decreased yesterday morning to 19.96m, still 1.96 above the danger level. Local authorities remained concerned about a further increase in the water level as it was still rising in the northern province of Bokeo.

In Vientiane, the water level in the Mekong continued to increase yesterday morning to 13.63m, 1.13m above the danger mark of 12.50m. It is expected to increase to 13.85m today but should drop to 13.72m tomorrow.

At Pakxan village in Borikhamxay province, the water level rose from 14.26m to 14.60m yesterday, 0.10m above the danger level. It is forecast to increase to 15.10m today and 15.50m tomorrow.

Borikhamxay Anti-Flooding Committee Head, Mr Leuam Sonsyvilay said Road Number 13 South had flooded at seven locations in the province, causing traffic difficulties.

A number of roads linking districts were also cut off.

“The main task of our province now is to help villagers. We need to supply clean water to flooded villagers,” Mr Leuam said.

The urban areas of Sivilay village have been flooded, forcing villagers to move their property to higher ground.

Mr Leuam said about 6,500 hectares of rice fields had been flooded in Borikhan, Pakxan, Thaphabath and Pakkading villages.

The water level is expected to increase slightly in Khammuan, Savannakhet, and Champassak provinces, but it is not anticipated to reach dangerous levels in the next two days.

In Khammuan province, the water level reached 13.52m yesterday morning, lower than the danger mark of 14m. It is predicted to increase to 13.59m today and 13.63m tomorrow.

Officials said more than 6,000 hectares of rice fields had been flooded in Khammuan province as well as the urban district of Mahaxay.

In Savannakhet, the water level reached 11.26m yesterday morning. The danger level there is 13m. River levels in the town should increase to 11.30m today and 11.35m tomorrow.

In Champassak, the water level reached 11.10m yesterday morning, below a danger mark of 12m. The level will increase to 11.47m today and 11.70m tomorrow.

 
 

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