(KPL) Road No.16 , bridges, villages, communication and electricity systems were cut and flooded immediately by the overflow of the Sekong River in Sekong Province since Wednesday’s morning, after Ketsana tropical storm landed on many southern provinces on Tuesday’s evening, according to local authority.
At the same time, the water level of the Sedon River, under the influence of the storm, further swelled and submerged rice fields and some villages in two districts of Khongsedon and Vapy, Saravane province.
A press release of the southern province of Sekong reported yesterday that hundreds of families living in Pakpoun and Don Chane villages, Lamam district, along the Sekong River, were affected severely by the power of the storm, when Sekong River’s water level went up over the limited line.
Mr Sida Souvanasai, Head of the Sekong Province Administration Office, disclosed yesterday that Sekong River’s water level began to increase continuously at 3-4 a.m. on Wednesday’s morning. According to the initial observation, the water level increases immediately after Ketsana’s arrival.
Until now many roads and villages in Sekong province were completely cut, especially Road No.16 and bridges linking the province with the neighbouring provinces of Saravane, Attapeu and Champassak. These bridges are also under water but there is no report on casualties, said Mr Sida.
He said the water level was higher than the limited line from 10 to 28 meters and the level was expected to go further up than Wednesday’s level if there was more rain.
Now provincial officials concerned dispatched task force teams with necessary relief aid to help flood victims. But they told local officials yesterday that the victims lacked basic facilities such as boats, food and shelters.The Saravane Meteorology and Hydrology Office disclosed yesterday that Ketsana tropical storm already hit this southern province on Tuesday’s afternoon. Ketsana’s influence yesterday caused many of the river’s tributaries to swell up and flooded two districts in Saravane Province.
Mr Keomany Souvannasin, technical officer of the Saravane-based Meteorology and Hydrology Office, reported yesterday that the water level in Sedon River rose over the limited line from 11.50 to 12.80 meters and put villages and wet-season rice farmland in Vapy and Khongsedon districts, Saravane province, under water. So far there has been no report on casualties.
A latest report from Attapeu province said yesterday that Sekong River had caused an extensive flooding of villages and wet-season farmland. But the report could not provide the extent of the floods caused by the tropical storm “Ketsana”.
KPL Lao News Agency
October 01, 2009
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