Hydropower dam collapses in Southern Laos

Officials have brought boats to help evacuate people in San Sai district of Attapeu province, where the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam is located, as water levels rise after the dam collapsed. The $1.02 billion hydropower dam is being built by the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Power Company, a joint venture between South Korean, Thai and Lao firms. Laos aims to become the "battery of Asia" by selling power to its neighbors through a series of hydropower dams. Attapu province of Laos is a border province with Vietnam, so there are a lot of Vietnamese people living in the area.