3.2 The Xe-Pian Dam Disaster
29
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
0
100
200
300
400
500
PrecipitaƟon in (mm)
Fig. 3.3 Attapeu average precipitations
seas. Figure 3.3 shows Attapeu average monthly precipitations (https://en.climatedata.org/asia/laos/attapeu-1818/). Precipitation in the region is the lowest in January,
with an average of 3 mm. Most precipitation falls in August, with an average of
566 mm. Tropical Storm Son Tinh on July 18–19, 2018 caused flooding in various
provinces. Media reported heavy rainfall in Attapeu Province resulted in dangerously
high river and dam levels (UN OCHA 2018).
3.2.2 Dam Collapse Chronology
The main Thai stakeholder reportedly declared that the dam “was fractured” after
“continuous rainstorm(s)” caused a “high volume of water to flow into the project’s
reservoir”. The timeline was approximately as follows:
Sunday 21:00 local time (14:00 GMT)—The dam is found to be partially damaged.
The authorities are alerted and villagers near the dam start to be evacuated. A team
is sent to repair the dam, but is hampered by heavy rain, which has also damaged
many roads. This constitutes a sad textbook example of external inter-dependency.
Monday 03:00—Water is discharged from one of the main dams (Xe-Namnoy dam)
to try to lower water levels in the subsidiary dam. We do not know whether both
29
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
0
100
200
300
400
500
PrecipitaƟon in (mm)
Fig. 3.3 Attapeu average precipitations
seas. Figure 3.3 shows Attapeu average monthly precipitations (https://en.climatedata.org/asia/laos/attapeu-1818/). Precipitation in the region is the lowest in January,
with an average of 3 mm. Most precipitation falls in August, with an average of
566 mm. Tropical Storm Son Tinh on July 18–19, 2018 caused flooding in various
provinces. Media reported heavy rainfall in Attapeu Province resulted in dangerously
high river and dam levels (UN OCHA 2018).
3.2.2 Dam Collapse Chronology
The main Thai stakeholder reportedly declared that the dam “was fractured” after
“continuous rainstorm(s)” caused a “high volume of water to flow into the project’s
reservoir”. The timeline was approximately as follows:
Sunday 21:00 local time (14:00 GMT)—The dam is found to be partially damaged.
The authorities are alerted and villagers near the dam start to be evacuated. A team
is sent to repair the dam, but is hampered by heavy rain, which has also damaged
many roads. This constitutes a sad textbook example of external inter-dependency.
Monday 03:00—Water is discharged from one of the main dams (Xe-Namnoy dam)
to try to lower water levels in the subsidiary dam. We do not know whether both