Lao PDR, Floods due to TS Bebinca

Department of Meteorology and Hydrology of Lao PDR had forecast heavy rainfall in the north-eastern and north-western are of the country since the beginning of Week 34. It was followed by alarming flood alert in Ban Mixal Monitoring station. Once it made landfall in Viet Nam, and approaching Lao PDR, TS Bebinca unleashed torrential rain in many parts of the country, affecting agriculture, houses, and other infrastructure; i.e. including in areas previously affected by floods due to TS Son-Tinh in July 2018. Farmland in 411 villages has been affected, more than 34,000 hectares of crops have been flooded, 25,900 hectares of farmland have been affected, and 60 irrigation systems and some dwellings have been damaged. The districts of Xaybouly, Vilabouly, Atsaphangthong, Atsaphon, Champhon, Xonbouly are the worst affected. In Xaybouly district, 7,000 hectares of farmland have been damaged, along with roads, and power is out in some areas so local communities cannot use electricity. Officials are continuing to survey the damage while helping affected communities and calculating the cost of the damage. Oudomxay has also reported flooding as Tropical Storm Bebinca moves across the country. Heavy rainfall lasting several hours on Thursday inundated a market. Water up to one metre deep flooded the market, but has now receded. Officials are surveying other districts and expediting damage assessments. TS Bebinca also damaged dwellings, roads, farmland and cattle in Phoukhoun district, Luang Prabang province, on Thursday. Huaphan province is another area at high risk of damage from Bebinca, so authorities are warning villagers living along rivers to be alert for flooding after the water has risen to dangerous levels. Many villages in Xamtay district have already been flooded and officials are calculating the cost of the damage. Tropical Storm Bebinca is moving across northern Vietnam and Laos from August 16-18. People should prepare for severe conditions, warned the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology. Provinces in at-risk are as are on the alert and have been monitoring water levels in the main rivers in preparation for storm activity. The flood also caused emergency operations in Attapeu Province on hold due to rising water level at Xekong River.