Laos' flooding damages bridges, cuts off district

Roads remain cut in and out of flood-affected district of Xiengkhor in Laos' northern province of Huaphan remains after damage to two road bridges during unprecedented flash flooding last week.

The bridges located on either side of the district were rendered unusable after harm sustained during a deluge that occurred Tuesday evening.

The damage to the 60 and 70-metre spans from 30 metre-high flood waters has left vehicular transport at a standstill, making the district a virtual island and hampering access to the remainder of the province and nearby Vietnam.

The situation has hampered the arrival of much needed goods and relief supplies for the worst affected who lost dwellings and possessions including livestock and stores of rice and other staples in the flooding.

With repair bills estimated at some 6 billion Lao kip (733 thousand U.S. dollars), local authorities are calling for urgent action to repair the bridges and lend support to households affected to prevent them slipping into poverty. Enditem