Huaphan speeds up search for six missing in landslide

Huaphan provincial authorities are speeding up their search for six people missing after a landslide swept away two houses in Hindam village, Viengxay district on August 3.
Seven people were reported missing. One body was found several days later and identified as being one of the victims.
The landslide occurred above a river that forms the border between Laos and Vietnam.
Viengxay district Governor Mr Phonsouk Inthavong told Vientiane Times on Friday that after the search for victims is completed on the Vietnamese side of the river on September 1, the Lao side will clear road access to an area about 2km from Hindam village where it is thought more bodies might be found.
It is expected that the search will stop when this area has been examined, as all other possible locations have already been explored, he said.
Four bodies have been found on the Vietnamese side of the river but only one was identified as being one of the six missing persons. The others are partially decomposed and their families probably won’t be able to recognise them.
The body that has been identified was that of Mr Yearchengthor, 47, whose home was swept into the river by the landslide.
Lao authorities are now also waiting for the Vietnamese to identify the bodies of two women and a boy that were found, as they may be missing Vietnamese nationals.

By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update September 2, 2019)