Photos| Laos dam burst: Rescuers still continue their search for missing

A wall of water was unleashed Monday after parts of the Xe-Namnoy dam were washed away, sending floods surging downstream, sweeping away homes and leaving an unknown number of people missing. Though the official Laos News Agency said that about 26 people were dead and more than 130 were missing. It remains unclear what caused the $1.2 billion dollar dam to subside in some places and develop cracks. But the firm has blamed on heavy rains.

Updated on: Jul 26, 2018 1:14 PM IST

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Updated on Jul 26, 2018 1:14 PM

Residents climb up to rooftop surrounded by floodwaters in Attapeu province. Rescuers battled fresh rains Thursday to reach scores of people still missing after Xe-Namnoy dam collapse in southern Laos that unleashed a torrent of water, washing away whole villages. (Attapeu Today / AFP)

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Updated on Jul 26, 2018 1:14 PM

A motor bike pass near land slide area seen after the hydropower dam collapsed in Attapeu province. The scale of the disaster was still unclear, in part because of the inaccessibility of the area but also because reports from the communist country’s state media have been scant and sketchy. (Soe Zeya Tun / REUTERS)

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Villagers evacuated after the collapse. A situation report from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said roads and bridges were damaged and eight villages had been hit by flash flooding after the failure of the dam. It said boat and helicopter were the only means of transport in the affected areas. (Stringer / REUTERS)

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Debris seen in an area affected by landslide after the collapse. The official Laos News Agency said that about 26 people were confirmed dead and more than 130 were missing following the failure of the dam on Monday, a subsidiary structure under construction as part of a hydroelectric project. (Soe Zeya Tun / REUTERS)

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An aerial view shows the flooded area after the dam collapsed. The $1.2 billion dollar Xe-Namnoy dam, a joint venture between Laos and Korean companies, was still under construction in southern Attepeu province when it collapsed after heavy rains pounded the area earlier this week. (Mime Phoumsavanh / REUTERS)

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The entrance of Houay Ho Hydropower Plant is seen in Sanamxai, Attapeu province. Laos, one of Asia’s poorest countries, has ambitions to become the “battery of Asia” through the construction of multiple dams. It has finished building 11 dams, says Thai non-government group TERRA, with 11 more under construction and dozens planned. (Ye Aung Thu / AFP)

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The search for survivors was hampered by monsoon weather. Boats and helicopters were dispatched to find people still trapped. Around a dozen Chinese rescuers in helmets and life jackets joined rescuers in Sanamxai town Thursday near the dam site. (Mime Phoumsavanh / REUTERS)

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A woman with her child seek shelter with other displaced residents in Paksong town. Vietnam also came forward and dispatched military and medical personnel to support rescue efforts and Thailand said it was sending close to $150,000 in aid. (Ye Aung Thu / AFP)

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Displaced residents seek shelter in Paksong town. Authorities are investigating the collapse whereas, the firm blamed the collapse on heavy rain. Laos and its neighbours are in the middle of the monsoon season that brings tropical storms and heavy rain. (Ye Aung Thu / AFP)