[Tlc] L-floods

[justinm at ucr.edu]

FYI.
Thanks,
justin



2008-0814 - VTE Times - Villages in Laos cut off by flooding

http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=832&sec=1

Villages in Laos cut off by flooding

News Desk
Vientiane Times
Publication Date: 14-08-2008

Water levels in the Mekong River continued rising in Laos' capital Vientiane and the provinces yesterday (Aug 13), flooding roads and cutting off villages.

The water level in the Mekong at Luang Prabang province yesterday morning increased to 20.38m, well above the danger level of 18m, according to the department of meteorology and hydrology.

But it was expected to decrease to 20.12m today (Aug 14) and 19.87m tomorrow (Aug 15), according to the department.

Luang Prabang anti-flooding committee head Khampheng Saysompheng said a road to Kuangxy waterfall had been flooded and another road was under 20cm of water, causing traffic difficulties.

He said some parts of the town had been flooded, especially the road along the Khan River, and villagers and property had been moved to high ground.

Continued rainfall has also caused a number of landslides which have cut roads in several districts over the past three days.

In Vientiane, the water level increased to 13.26m yesterday morning, above the danger level of 12.5m.

The department of meteorology and hydrology predicted the level of the Mekong at Vientiane could reach as high as 14.2m by August 15.

If the prediction is correct Vientiane could be flooded, as the capital's established sandbag wall is now able to protect the city from water levels up to only 14m.

The department said the water level in Pakxan town of Borikhamxay province, where villagers now use boats as their main method of transport, reached 14.26m yesterday morning, 0.24m below the danger level.

Provincial officials said that water from the Mekong has already flooded more than 5,000 hectares of rice fields, of which 3,000 hectares were in Pakxan.

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Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu