Relevant authorities in Oudomxay have formed an ad hoc team to search for pesticide and herbicide tanks that were washed away by flood waters in Beng and Hun districts on Aug 13.

The Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmentof Oudomxay Province are accelerating their search efforts for the missing chemical tanks.

Consecutive days of heavy rainfall caused the water level in the Beng River to rise over its banks flooding several houses, roads and farmland in Beng and Hun districts of Oudomxay Province, according to Director of Oudomxay Provincial Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Bounlien Vorakot.

There is fear among local people that people or animals may use or drink water contaminated with the chemicals.

The missing chemical tanks are worth 600 million kip (over US$74,000). The flooding event also resulted in the disappearance of 55 tonnes of fertilizer worth 250 million kip which belonged to banana farms owned by foreign investors.

The provincial agricultural sector has warned local people who live in nearby communities to be cautious when using water, and avoid using water from streams or ponds as they fear the water sources may be contaminated with the harmful chemicals.

The Oudomxay Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment on Wednesday estimated that 43 villages have been flooded with 2,176 families affected, over 2,800 ha of rice farms badly damaged, along with damage to over 500 ha of maize and 100 ha of banana plantations.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by Manythone

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