Authorities appeal for help after floods in Huaphan
 
Authorities in Viengxay district, Huaphan province, are calling for contributions of cash and materials to help with the recovery effort after 18 villages suffered from flooding and landslides.
Heavy rain has affected the area since August 3 and seven people are still missing after a landslide.
The Viengxay district office has requested money and basic supplies to help people whose homes or property have been inundated.
Seven people from two families in Hindam village are still missing after a landslide swept away two houses. The missing members of one family have been named as Mr Yengjingthor, 47, Ms Yai, 45, Mr Yeng, 17, and Mr Jeng, 13. The missing members of the second family are Ms Maisuathor, 22, and two children aged 5 and four months.
Floods have submerged 60 hectares of rice fields and 15 hectares of other crops, while five houses have been damaged. Some 140 fishponds, livestock and infrastructure have also been affected.
Those interested in helping or donating household items are invited to call local authorities at the district office on 064 315 018 or 020 555 64600.
Meanwhile, the search operation for the seven missing people continues, with authorities bringing in excavators to help local people and over 100 army personnel in their search and rescue operations.
Conditions are difficult due to large rocks, thick mud, and uprooted trees along a three kilometre stretch of the river.
Lao officials are contacting their Vietnamese counterparts to help in the search as Hindam village is located just three kilometres from the Vietnamese border and the river is also bordered by Vietnam.
Many parts of Laos were affected by flash floods, landslides and blocked roads after Tropical Storm Wipha passed over the country from August 4-5.
Damage to property in Nan district, Luang Prabang province, has been estimated at over 8.4 billion kip after almost 2,000 people were affected by floods. Some 358 families suffered varying degrees of property damage and 1,722 people in total have been affected, according to a local official.
It has been calculated that 14.44 hectares of crops and 52.58 hectares of rice were submerged, 638 bags of rice were damaged and 2,794 poultry and 23 pigs were lost. Two roads, four bridges, five irrigation systems and 28 houses were also damaged.

By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update August 12, 2019)