FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Landslide claims six lives in Phongsaly

Landslide claims six lives in Phongsaly

Vientiane - Two parents and four children were killed in a landslide in Phongsaly province early on Sunday occurring after almost two weeks of rainfall.

Head of Public Security Office of Samphan district Lieutenant Colonel Houmphaeng Khounsaniamphai told Vientiane Times on Monday that the landslide took place in Phearluang village of Samphan district at 4:20 am on Sunday, engulfing the house and most likely killing the six immediately on impact.

The victims were identified as Mr Lang, 58, and his wife Ms Lieng, 40, along with four children: Mr Khamler, 12, Mr Thai, ten, Ms Kern, eight, and Ms Song, aged six years old.

Lieutenant Colonel Houmphaeng said there were four dwellings located in the proximity of the disaster area, but only Mr Lang’s house which had backed onto the incline was in the path of the landslip.

It is not the first fatal landslide to occur in northern areas. In 2013, a total of 16 people were killed by flooding and landslides in the province of Oudomxay.

Estimates from that disaster put property losses at about 1,900 billion kip after houses were swept away or buried and farmlands, crops, livestock and other possessions were damaged or lost in the flooding.

Some 48 houses in Baeng district and nine dwellings in Xay district were swept away while others were severely damaged.

From May to October of this year, tropical storms are expected to be generated in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, according to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

A few of these storms could move across into Laos bringing torrential rains that increase the chance of landslides and flash flooding, particularly in northern and central regions.

All are advised to monitor the weather forecasts issued by the department.

From July 10-11, light rain is to be expected across some regions of the country, according to the daily forecast from the Meteorology and Hydrology Department released yesterday.

In the capital, Vientiane, temperatures are projected to range from a low of 24 to a high of 33 degrees Celsius.

In northeastern areas, temperatures are set to range from 18-30 degrees while in the north-west, temperatures within a 22-32 degree band are likely to prevail.

Central areas will see temperatures range from 24-31C while the south can expect temperatures varying from 23-32C.

RELATED
nationthailand