VIENTIANE, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The construction of new dwellings for families who lost their homes during the catastrophic flood that hit southern Laos' Attapeu province in July 2018 is now almost complete, a Lao official said.

Some 688 of 700 planned new homes have been completed. Most of the families have moved into the new houses and finally started to rebuild their lives, the Lao National Radio on Monday quoted Deputy Provincial Governor of Attapeu province Bounseuth Setthilat as saying.

Following the collapse of a dam at the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower plant, some 560 km southeast of Lao capital Vientiane, homeless families were initially accommodated in tents and shelters before moving into the temporary housing in Sanamxay district in 2018.

The flood triggered by the dam collapse killed over 40 people with many more going missing while thousands of others were left homeless. Several villages were wiped out by the flood.

All hydropower projects are currently under scrutiny by the Lao government, with officials ordered to inspect all dams under construction and ensure their safety.

In July, the Lao National Assembly approved a new law on dam safety, which sets out specific guidelines and measures to regulate the construction and operation of hydropower plants in Laos.

The new law will ensure that dams are built in compliance with strict standards and that they are closely monitored to maintain safety, according to the report. Enditem

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