VIENTIANE (Xinhua) – The Lao government will work with countries whose companies are stakeholders in the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower project to investigate the cause of the collapse of the project’s saddle dam. The hydropower reservoir’s saddle dam collapsed on July 23, causing flash floods swamping villages in Sanamxay district of Attapeu province, some 560 km southeast of Lao capital Vientiane, leaving at least nine people dead as of Sunday and with more than 100 still declared missing. He said the government will provide relief assistance and rebuilding local communities affected by the floods.

• Tags: dam, hydropower, Laos, Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy