Homeless In Mekong Flood

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31154, 2 September 1966, Page 11

Homeless In Mekong Flood

ZP A Reuter —Copyright) VIENTIANE, September 1.

Thousands of people have been forced to flee from their homes after the steadily-rising floodwaters of the Mekong river submerged nearly half of the Laotian capital.

The Mekong, normally here a thin trickle wandering through the middle of a vast stretch of sand flats, has surged over its banks in a raging, muddy torrent. i Monsoon rains have alreadyswollen the river to many [feet above its normal level. The waters have swamped the tree-lined riverfront, lapping around high-eaved Buddhist temples built on [stilts, and have raced through I the city's ■ thinly-asphalted [streets turning them into [quagmires. Laotian and American helicopters took people to higher ground. Thousands were made homeless. The floods have prevented boats which daily carry vegetables and other food supplies from Thailand across the river to Laos from making their usual crossing. People still in their own homes were advised by the Government [to store foodstuffs.

They have been urged, too, to have themselves vaccinated to avoid the risk of epidemics.

Surface communications between Vientiane and the Thailand town of Nongkhai, 15 miles to the south-east on

the opposite bank of the Mekong, have been cut. Reports said Nongkhai’s power station and water system were both out of action, and refugees were being rescued from rooftops.