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Floods cost Luang Prabang almost 100b kip

Vientinae Times, By SOMSACK PONGKHAO
(Latest Update August 19, 2008)

The estimated flood damage bill in Luang Prabang province has reached almost 100 billion kip, according to an unofficial report from the provincial flooding and drought prevention committee yesterday.

Committee Head, Mr Khampheng Saysompheng, said there was more than 50 million kip worth of damage to the communication sector alone, and there was also significant damage to infrastructure and the agricultural sector.

“We will calculate the figure in detail prior to reporting it to the government,” he said.

Mr Khampheng, who is also Luang Prabang Deputy Governor, said damage to the communication sector was caused by landslides which blocked traffic and cut off some roads.

He said 417 hectares of rice fields had been damaged, mainly in Nambak, Pak-ou, Luang Prabang, Chomphet, and Phonxay districts. The cost of the damage to rice crops was nearly 3 billion kip.

About 2,300m of weirs had been damaged, which would cost about 2 billion kip to repair, he said.

About 840 families in 61 villages were affected by flooding and many were evacuated to higher ground. Provincial authorities also provided dry food and clean water for victims to reduce the impact of the flooding.

The water level in the Mekong River at Luang Prabang has decreased to 15m over the past four days, below the flood danger mark of 18m. Three of the seven villages that suffered electricity cuts last week have had their power restored.

In Vientiane, the total cost of damage is yet to be assessed as district authorities are working to calculate the cost.

The water level of the Mekong River in the capital dropped to 12.62m yesterday morning, still above the danger mark of 12.50m, according to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department.

Forecasters predict the water level will continue dropping as no heavy rain is expected this week, except for a few short downpours and moderate rainfall in some parts of the country.

The department is working on a long-range weather forecast for September to ensure authorities and residents are prepared for any further possible flooding.

In Borikhamxay province, the cost of damage to the agriculture sector was 90 billion kip, according to unofficial figures from the provincial flooding and drought prevention committee.

The committee’s head, Mr Leuam Sonsyvilay, said they couldn’t evaluate the full cost of the flooding yet.

“We are still collecting detailed information from the other sectors affected by flooding such as roads and houses,” he said.

“I think the highest costs will have been sustained by roads, because 10 roads and some sections of Road Number 13 South have been damaged as a result of flooding.”

Mr Leuam said more than 5,680 people from 309 families in 44 villages had been affected by flooding.

During a visit led by Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh on Sunday, the government gave 200 million kip to Borikhamxay provincial authorities to assist villagers affected by flooding.

Mr Bouasone urged the authorities to focus on people’s health, especially those living in the 10 villages heavily affected by flooding.

The water level in Khammuan province decreased to 13.73m yesterday morning, below the danger mark of 14m. Despite this, 11,884 hectares of rice fields remain flooded and authorities are still calculating the cost of the damage.

The water level in Savannakhet and Champassak provinces has not yet reached the danger mark, but some people are already reporting damage to property.

The water level in Savannakhet reached 11.59m on Sunday morning, below the danger level of 13m. The water level in Champassak province reached 11.26m, below the danger level of 12m.

 
 

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