TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hundreds of people went missing in Laos after a giant hydroelectric reservoir collapsed. A public official from San Sai district, Attapeu province said on Tuesday, July 24, that the dam broke after water levels rose.
The disaster has also displaced at least 6,000 people off their homes. The government of Laos has sent boats to help evacuate people.
Laos' official news agency reported that the dam collapse caused the release of some five billion cubic meters of water, enough to fill more than two million Olympic-size swimming pools.
A video posted to Facebook shows villagers watching water rushing from a riverside.
The hydroelectric dam was with an investment of US$1.2 billion. The plant, which would have 410 MW capacity, was being constructed by Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Power Company (PNPC).
Multinational companies are involved in the project, including Thailand's Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding and Korea's Western Power. The Laos government-run Holding Lao is also working on it.
Most of the power from the hydroelectric plant was to be distributed to Thailand. Commercial operation was scheduled for 2019.
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