Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Thursday agreed to send USD 200,000 to support Lao Government to deal with the aftermath of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam collaspe.
Hundreds still missing after Laos dam breach. Photo by AFP
Earlier on July 24, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and President Tran Dai Quang sent messages of sympathy to General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachit over the great losses in humans and property caused by the incident.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also cabled a message of sympathy to his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith, while Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also sent a similar message to Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith.
The Laotian prime minister said Wednesday 131 people are still missing two days after the dam collapse which swamped several villages in the country's south, killing at least 26 people.
The Vientiane Times reported that 3,000 were in need of rescue as of Wednesday afternoon, taking shelter in trees and on rooftops.
Footage on Laos television showed people huddled on roofs awaiting rescue as muddy water swirled menacingly just below them, with the army and local volunteers leading the rescue effort.
