Laos: Flood Damage In Laos Costs Millions Of Dollars
VIENTIANE, LAOS: The recent floods in Laos have inflicted damage worth hundreds of billions of kip (millions of dollars), destroying farmlands, irrigation systems, roads, schools and houses, according to unofficial reports. The total cost of flood damage has yet to be officially confirmed because the government is still collecting information from provincial authorities. But initial reports reveal extensive damage throughout the country. In six of Vientiane 's nine districts the cost of flooding has already reached about 148 billion kip (US$78.5 million). This figure does not include damage to Sikhottabong and Xaysettha districts, which authorities are currently assessing. In Luang Prabang province the cost of flood damage is almost 100 billion kip ($11.8 million). More than 50 billion ($5.9 million) of this damage was to the transportation sector, according to provincial authorities. In Khammuan province the value of flood damage has not yet been calculated, but authorities say it...