Laos dam collapses

Hundreds of people are missing and an unknown number believed dead after the collapse of a hydropower dam in southeast Laos.

The accident happened at the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in the southeastern province of Attapeu in July, sparking flash floods in villages in the area and leaving more than 6,000 people homeless. Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company, a joint venture of two South Korean firms, one from Thailand and a state-owned Laotian firm, is building the hydroelectric project, which includes several dams.

The dam, which was still under construction, released five billion cubic metres of water, which is equivalent to over two million Olympic swimming pools.

Dam projects have long been controversial as they often displace large numbers of local people.