Large stretches of the Nam Non River in Nhon Mai Commune are covered by thick layers of floating waste, including logs, branches and other debris washed downstream after severe flooding last year.
Ta Huu Hung, director of Ban Ve Hydropower Company, said around 30,000 cubic metres of waste had accumulated in Nhon Mai alone.
“About 80 per cent of the debris drifted from upstream areas in Laos after major flooding in July last year,” Hung said, adding that the huge volume of waste and difficult terrain had slowed clean-up efforts.
He noted that waste collection could not be carried out during periods of high water and only began late last year after water levels stabilised.
Despite the involvement of two contractors, progress remained slow because of the scale of the debris, Hung added.
Much of the submerged wood and organic waste has begun decomposing after months in the water, producing foul odours and worsening pollution in the reservoir area.
Local authorities said the waste was affecting aquaculture, fishing and transport activities for residents living along the river.
Le Hong Thai, chairman of Nhon Mai Commune, said large logs and floating debris had nearly blocked some sections of the river, making boat travel difficult and posing safety risks.
The situation has affected 97 households in Phia Oi and Pieng Luong villages, where many residents depend on fishing and fish farming for their livelihoods, Thai said.
Authorities have assigned the commune to oversee the clean-up operation, but efforts have been hampered by rugged terrain, the large amount of waste and limited access to the affected areas, which are reachable mainly by boat.
Local officials said Nhon Mai remained the worst-hit area, while clean-up work in nearby Huu Khuong Commune had largely been completed.
Authorities are considering a plan to combine waste collection with the recovery of usable timber from the debris, a proposal backed by provincial agriculture and environment officials.
