www.unescap.org/.../LaoPDR-Bouangeun-DMSystem-in-LaoPDR.doc
Disaster Management System in Lao PDR
By: Ms. BouaNgeun OUDOMCIT
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology
Vientiane Lao PDR
Abstract
Even though, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic is a landlocked country, it is
also a land linked with the other countries of the Southeast Asia effecting by the Tropical
disturbances: Monsoons and Typhoons. Lao PDR has been incessantly damaged by natural
disasters that floods and droughts are the Two mains hazards, but flood occurred more
frequently not only since 1966 large flood, but also in the historic floods occurring in 1924,
1939 and so one…
I. Introduction
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1.1: General Background
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is located in the Central of southeast Asia.
Sharing border with China to the North, Myanmar to the North West, Thailand to
the West, Cambodia to the South and Vietnam to the East.
From the geographic location, the width of some 40 km to 50 km in the Central
province is vulnerable to Tropical depression and Typhoon originating in the Pacific
Ocean or the South China Sea. Al though PhuLuang mountain range along the LaoVietnam border is the natural barrier to protect Storm surge phenomenon, however
heavy rainfall associated with these Tropical disturbances frequently caused severe
flooding problems in Central and Southern plains.
Administratively the country is divided in to 16 Provinces and 1 Capital is the
Vientiane, about 135 districts and more than 15.600 villages and 5.8 millien
With total area of 236.800 square kilometers, 80% of with are mountainous, mainly
in the Northern region, with a highest elevation of 2.820 meters and lowest
elevation of 90 meters. The Mekong river is the main geographical feature in the
West and in fact froms a natural border with Thailand in most areas.
The Mekong River flows through nearly 1.900 kilometers of Lao territory. It is the
main river in Lao PDR, with the main 13 tributary from Lao PDR ( for the lower
Mekong basin ) . Total catchments area about 795.000 km2 distribution as be low:
* China
164.565 km2
= 20.7 %
* Myanmar
20.670 km2
= 2.6 %
* Lao PDR
213.060 km2
= 26.8 %
* Thailand
189.210 km2
= 23.8 %
* Cambodia
151.050 km2
= 19.0 %
* Vietnam
1.2 :
56.445 km2
= 7.1 %
Organization Chart of DMH
Director General
Deputy Director General
Administration & Personnel DIV
Deputy Director General
Weather Forecast & Aeronautical Div.
Hydrological Div
Planning & cooperation Div
Meteo Network & Earthquake Div.
Technical Management Div.
Climate & Agro– Meteorological Div.
Hydro – Meteorological Station of Provinces
Hydro – Meteorological Station of Districts
II. Climate monitoring.
Laos enjoys a tropical climate with two seasons it is rainy season, from the beginning
of May to the end of October and dry seasons from November to April.
2.1: Rainfall monitoring
Rainfall data distribution in Lao PDR ( Table 1 )
Province
Annual Total
rainfall in
(mm)
Rainy season
MayOctober(SW)
%
Dry season
NovemberApril(NE)
%
Phongsaly (1990-2008)
Luangnamthat(1994-08)
Bokeo
(1996-2008)
Oudomxay (1987-2008)
Sayabuoly (1969-2008)
Luangprabang(1951-08)
Xiengkhuang (1982-08 )
Houaphane(1976-2008 )
Vientiane(1951-2008)
Paksane (1996-2008)
Thakhek (1987-2008)
Savanakhet(1971-2008)
Saravan (1989-2008)
Pakse (1951-2008)
Paksong (1983-2008)
Sekong (1992-2008)
Atapeu (1989-2008)
Mean
1669.6
1736.6
1886.1
1603.2
1445.1
1367.1
1465.3
1724.1
1756.1
3563.7
2550.3
1543.1
2120.5
2081.1
3580.1
1626.4
2405.0
1865.8 mm
1494.0
1413.3
1642.1
1414.4
1346.9
1215.2
1321.2
1503.6
1632.1
3369.3
2439.7
1448.8
2001.4
1981.7
3139.4
1470.8
2284.7
1602.4 mm
89.5
81.4
87.1
88.2
93.2
88.8
90.2
87.2
92.9
94.5
95.6
93.9
94.4
95.2
87.7
90.4
95.0
90.9 %
276.7
323.3
290.8
258.4
211.1
226.2
235.4
282.2
199.9
265.4
218.9
142.9
154.1
140.6
440.8
194.6
158.0
236.4 mm
10.5
18.6
12.9
11.8
6.8
11.2
9.8
12.8
7.1
5.5
4.4
6.1
5.6
4.8
12.3
9.6
5.0
9.1 %
- From long time statistic total rainfall is about 1865.8 mm, in rainy season amount 90.9 %
of total rainfall ( May – October ) and on the dry seasons amount 9.1 % of rainfall were
concentrated from ( November – April ).
- A short drought of about 2 weeks is experienced between June and July.
2.2: Temperature monitoring.
Temperature is continuously increasing, the rain does not come properly, which
results in a number of adverse impacts to the economic system, environment and the
livelihoods of people of all ethnic groups. Thus, climate change poses as a great
challenge for the Lao PDR to tackle and adapt to climate change conditions and
minimize the emission of those greenhouse gases.
- Mean Minimum temperature is 13.5C - 17.5C ( December – January ).
- Mean maximum temperature is 35.5C - 39.5C ( March – April ).
- Annual average temperature is 26.5C - 27.5C.
- Absolute minimum temperature is - 03.3C at station Xiengkhuang
on 25/12/1999.
- Absolute maximum temperature recorded 44.4C at station Savannakhet
on 7/4/1974
III. Disasters Management Framework:
3.1: Organization Chart of the NDMC
Organization Chart of the
National Disaster Management Committee
3.2: Hazards.
The main hazards in Lao PDR are flood and drought Both are dependent on the amount
of rainfall. If there is less than 2.000 mm rainfall in the year, drought sensitive areas will be
effected. More than 200 mm in 2 days certainly leads to floods along the Mekong plain.
Cyclones are therefore not direct hazard, since their force is normally diminished once they
have reached Laos from the South China sea, but they can produce flood as a consequence
of heavy rainfall. Up to three cyclones hit the country annually, while flood, drought and
land-slight occur irregularly.
Another virulent hazard is deforestation. It is a direct hazard to the natural
environment , but also significantly contributing to the worsening of the effects of ‘normal’
hydrological and meteorological phenomena, causing an increase of the surface runoff in
quantity and velocity ( natural flood mitigation is lost ).
In recent years natural disasters resulting from climate abnormalities have occurred
more frequently especially droughts and floods.
The natural disasters last 10 years are recorded droughts and floods from 1999-2008
Disaster Statistic 1998 – 2008 ( Table 1 )
No
Year
Types of Damage
1
2
3
4
1999
2000
2001
2002
5
6
7
2003
2004
2005
8
2006
9
10
2007
2008
Flood
Flood
Flash flood
Large flood ,Flash
flood and land- slight
Drought
Flood
Flash flood and
land- slight
Flood and Strong
Wind
Flood and Drought
Large flood
Damage Cost
( US$ )
7.450.000
12.500.000
8.000.000
24.454.546
16.500.000
20.750.000
218.304.000
3.207.968
997.960
485.902.186
Place of Damage
Central
Central and Southern
Central and Southern
Northern, Central and
Southern
Northern and Central
Southern
Central and Southern
Northern, Central and
Southern
Central
Northern and Central hern
3.3: Flood in the year 2008.
On 8 August TS KUMMURI ( 0809 ) Landfall over Southern of China, the spiral
band of TS covered Northeastern part of Indochina as well as , Northern and Central of
Lao PDR. As a resulted widespread monsoonal heavy rains on the 8th and 9th of the month
over upstream of Mekong River are estimated more than 100-150 mm in 24 hours.
Therefore the flood peak 2008 condition has been much very high alarm stage, particularly
at Luangprabang, Vientiane Capital and Borikhamxay provinces.
Flood during August 2008 along the Northern and Central of Mekong River in Lao
PDR were higher damage was widespread. In Luangprabang , Vientiane Capital,
Borikhamxay and Khammuane provinces, almost 664 villages and 32.610 households were
affected. 03 peoples were killed and almost 28516.67 hectares of rice and other crops
damaged, about 702 heads ( buffalos, cows, pigs and goats ), 995 heads of poultry lost. The
direct economic losses in four provinces were 328.016.857.940 kips
( about 385.902.186 US$ ).
Assessed flood damage 2008 from Mekong River ( Table 2 )
Description
Provinces affected
Districts affected
Villages affected
Houses affected
People affected
People killed
Agriculture
Hectares of Rice and other Crop damaged
Hectares of Industry log damaged
Kilogram of seed bed / nursery
Assessment methodology is based on data reporting from : Provincial Agriculture and
Forestry Office , Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry ; Department of Meteorology and
Hydrology, Water Resources and Environment Administration and the National Disaster
Management Organization
Luangprabang, Vientiane , Bolikhamxay and Khammuane
26
664
32. 610
95.158 persons in Bolikhamxy and Khammuane provinces
3
28.516,67
53,54
860
Livestock
Cattle
Poultry
Fish ponds, aquaculture and Mekong fish net
Infrastructure
Schools
702 head ( buffalos, cows , pigs and goats ) lost
995 head lost
44 sites fish ponds 355,59 ha aquaculture and 71 sites of Mekong fish net
damaged
63 sites affected
Health Center
3 health center of Hinboun village affected
and 50 sites of Medicine Cabinet damaged
Bridges damage
3 sites
Erosion along the Mekong river
18 sites destroyed 27 kilometres of length
40 places damaged 314,38 kilometres of length
Road damage
Canal systems damaged
Drainage tube affected
Water wells damage
Underground water well damage
Natural water spring damage
Villagers toilette affected
48 sites
53 meters
929 sites
812 sites
1 site
4.954 sites
3.4: Mitigation:
Lao Government despondently move 1.126 families from flooding area to safe
place. On this flooding Prevention includes all Ministries, International Organization, and
Vientiane people totally 58.333 people, 4.171 people are officer and other 54.162 people to
protection dike 17 km along the Mekong River and low places by sandbags.
Dike Protection 13 Oct 2008
Move people to safety place 13 Oct 2008
 Assist on flooding period 12 – 20 August 2008 ( Table 3 )
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Total
Item
Sandbags
Drinking water
Noodle
Rice
Fished can
Medicines
Gasoline
Money
Unit
2.500.000
9.448
2.050 boxes
7 tons
1.525 packs
Cost US$
1.000.000
75.584
10.250
70.000
7.625
104.819
588.236
34.940
1.891.454 (US$)
3.5: Dissemination the Flood forecast and Weather forecast.
- To media radio
- To news paper
- To Television
- To Ministry concerned
- To Disaster Management Organization
- To Meteorological stations in provincial
3.6: Forecast & Warning Dissemination.
Forecast & Warning Dissemination in Laos
Department of Meteorology & Hydrology
LNMC
WMO
GTS
Network
http://dmhlao.etllao.com
Prime
Minister’s
Office
MAF
WREA
Aviation.
Intl. Airport
Local
Authorities
People in
Disaster Risk
Areas
Electricity
Hydro– power
MEM
Private companies
Mass Media
TV Radio
News
Provincial
Hydro – Meteo
Stations
Provincial
TV Radio
NDMC ( NDMO) Line
ministries concerned
PDMC
Provincial Agriculture
and Forestry Services
DDMC
Village Disaster
Prevention
Districts & villages
Disaster Risk Areas
3.7: Disaster Prevention and Preparedness
Natural Disaster prevention and mitigation is one of measures that contribute to
the poverty alleviation strategy of the Lao PDR government.

Disaster Management Institutions:
The National Disaster Management Community consisting of representative
From 12 key ministries and Lao Red Cross:
1. Minister of MLSW
Chairman
2. Vice-Minister of MAF
Vice–Chairman
3. Chief of Cabinet of MFA
Vice-Chairman
4. Chief of Cabinet of MOD
Member
5. Chief of Cabinet of MOS
Member
6. Chief of Cabinet of MOE
Member
7. Director of Budget Dept. MOF
Member
8. Director of Transport Dept. MPWT
Member
9. Director of Energy and Mine Dept.
Member
10. Director of Hygiene Dept. MOH
Member
11. Director of Mass Media Dept. MIC
Member
12. Director of Social Welfare Dept. MLSW Member
13. Chairman of Lao Red Cross
Member
3.8: CONCLUSION.
The disaster management in Lao PDR is the main objective will be have
information from new technology with help on forecaster to make sure the weather and
flood forecasting. Fore the more rainfall prediction is not enough sure to prevent the
disaster management in the country. Due to climate change the year to year, DMH need to
improver the new and high technology for the flood forecast and weather forecasting as
rainfall and seasonal forecast in the country and region.
Khon Pha Pheng Mekong River Waterfall
(End of Lao PDR )
Thank you very much fore
your attention
And Khop Chai Lai
Lai