DESASTRE
Cientos de desaparecidos, se teme que hay muchos muertos tras el colapso de una pesa en Laos
July 24, 2018 - Hay cientos de personas desaparecidas y se teme que muchas hayan muerto luego del colapso de una presa hidroeléctrica en el sur de Laos, que causó inundaciones súbitas que arrasaron muchas casas
The official Lao news agency KPL said the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in Attapeu province collapsed Monday evening, releasing cascades of water that swept away houses, flooded villages and made more than 6,600 people homeless.
The dam was made by a joint venture led by South Korean companies with Thai and Lao partners, and was still under construction.
Laos is one of the poorest countries in Asia. Electricity from several hydroelectric dams provides a large share of Laos' export earnings, with Thailand being a major buyer.
KPL said the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy project cost an estimated $1.02 billion. Much of the financing came from Thai lenders.
The dam was built to divert the Houay Makchanh, Xe-Namnoy and Xe-Pian rivers into reservoirs that feed into a 410-megawatt power plant that is due to begin operations in 2019. Only 10 percent of the power generated was to be used locally, with 90 percent exported to Thailand.
Laos is supposed to receive taxes, royalties and other income estimated at $33 billion per year from the dam.
- Xe Pian Xe Namnoy Hydroelectric Power Project
- Hundreds missing, several feared dead, after Laos dam collapse (Reuters)
- Hundreds missing in flash floods after Laos dam collapses (FT)
- Hundreds missing in Laos after hydropower dam collapse (AFP)
- Project Update: 410-MW Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric project in Laos