Update on flooding in Laos following Typhoon Yagi
Copyright: Laotian Times, September 11, 2024
Thank you for the many messages of support we've received. You've probably all heard about the flooding the country is experiencing, caused by Typhoon Yagi, which passed north of Laos and wreaked havoc in Vietnam.
The typhoon was followed by heavy rains, forcing the numerous hydraulic dams from China to Laos to release water in order to avoid the worst-case scenario of a dam breaking.
Many people ask us about the current situation in Laos. Today, September 16, 2024, we're seeing things more clearly.
Here, in a nutshell
You've probably already seen photos of submerged towns in the specialist press. As for us, we wanted to be pragmatic in our account without pretending to be journalists, which is not our profession.
On September 7, 2024, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology informed us of Typhoon Yagi's direction towards northern Vietnam and northern Laos.
Various localities have been placed on alert: Phongsali, Houaphanh, Xiengkhuang, Oudomxay, Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Xayabouli, Vientiane, Xaysomboun, Bolikamxay, Khammouan, Savannakhet. The province of Luang Namtha was the most affected initially, as it is directly linked to the typhoon, followed by all the regions crossed by the Mekong and the Namou river which flows into it, as well as the Namkhan river which flows through Luang Prabang.
Many families were evacuated from their homes as entire towns and villages were submerged. Some of them have lost everything, and are appealing for donations to come to their aid. For ORLA Tours, as for everyone else, everything happened very quickly, and this time we were not one of the core structures active in helping the locals (during the Attapeu dam in 2018, we collected 2 tons of donations and the planes were sent directly to the villages).
If you'd like to help out, please don't hesitate to contact our eco-responsible tours team for advice : sustainability@orlatours.com
The situation has stabilized since September 14, 2024, and the level of the Mekong and Namkhan rivers is decreasing. Every morning, a member of our team visits the banks of the Mekong to assess the situation.
Luang Prabang has been affected in some villages, at the lower level of the Mekong floods, but generally speaking the Mekong has not overflowed into the city. Homes far from the center and some villages were submerged by seepage, but more outside the city due to elevations below the maximum flood level. Although the Mekong and Namkhan rivers were 50 cm from the road in places, the peninsula remained intact.
The ORLA Tours team remains at your disposal for further information.
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