Man Killed As Storm Doksuri Lashes Savannakhet

Source: Vientiane Times

A 39-year-old man was killed when tropical storm Doksuri blasted through Vilabouly district, Savannakhet province, last Friday, wrecking 15 houses during 24 hours of thunderstorms and strong winds.

Doksuri crossed parts of Vietnam and Laos from September15-17, affecting many regions of the country and damaging many hectares of farmland.

Vilabouly district Governor Mr Buasone Mahavong told Vientiane Times yesterday that the strong winds and heavy rain began on the night of September 15 and continued into the evening of the next day. “A man in Khuanga village was killed instantly when a tree fell on him,” Mr Buasone said.

According to initial reports from the governor, almost 7,000 families in 72 villages in the district were affected by the storm. Fifteen houses were left without roofs and other buildings sustained severe structural damage.

“Over 40 electricity poles in the district were also damaged and 57 villages are still without electricity,” he added.

The affected area includes 1,000 hectares of ricefields, 30-40 hectares of rubber trees and other farmland. Four cows, one goat, a buffalo, over 100 fish, and 150 ducks and chickens, were also lost, according to the governor.

The storm lashed Vilabouly, Xepon and Nong districts but Xepon and Nong districts have yet to submit any reports of damage, according to an official from the province’s Disaster Management Division.

Storm Doksuri passed through the provinces of Khammuan, Borikhamxay and Savannakhet, according to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

According to the Vietnam News, Ngh’An province’s C’aLò town was also hard hit by Typhoon Doksuri, with more than 350 houses destroyed and over 500 trees uprooted.

According to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department, the effect of storms on Laos this year has been greater than in recent years, causing damage valued at millions of kip.

From January to October last year, Laos suffered the effects of two tropical storms and the indirect impact of two more. In the first eight months of this year, tropical storms Talas and Sonca also caused flooding in many provinces, the department said.