Landslides follow heavy rains in nation's north

Bokeo province road workers are struggling to repair sections of a provincial link between the districts of Paktha and Huayxai after vehicles were left stranded on Sunday evening by landslides.A 38 km section of the Paktha to Huayxai road has been cut at four points due to mudslides. Soil slid down onto the road in two locations while it has collapsed in another two places.

An official from the province Public Works and Transport Department Mr Somboun Keuthkong told Vientiane Times on Monday the landslides had cut off the road on Sunday due to heavy rain that lashed the province since Friday last week.

Many motorists and tourists on the way needed a ride back to find somewhere to stay in Paktha district town's guesthouses.

Workers started their repairs on Monday but were finding it difficult because of the weather.

“Right now it is not easy for workers on the road because it is still raining. If there is no more rain the road may be reopened again on Tuesday evening,” he said.

Mr Somboun explained that two sections of the road collapsed adjacent to the flooded Tha River due to the torrential rain in parts of the northern provinces.

Road users and tourists can use an alternative road through Xay district and another via Pakbaeng district in Oudomxay province to link to the town of Huayxai district in Bokeo province. The route via Pakbaeng district in Oudomxay province cannot be used to connect with Huayxai district as it is cut off in Paktha district of the Bokeo province.

An official from Oudomxay province Mrs Khonemany Xayatham said on Monday afternoon a section of National Road 2W at Vanglam Bridge in Houn district located between Xay and Pakbaeng districts that was flooded on Friday morning has seen vehicles starting to cross on Monday after water receded.

She added there had been no more rain and even sunshine again in Houn district on Monday morning. However, some streets in the town of Oudomxay province's Xay district remained flooded following some more rain in the afternoon, but it started to recede by 3:30 pm that day after the rain stopped.

About 170 houses in four villages of Hongsa district in Xayaboury province were also flooded due to heavy rain on Friday.