VIENTIANE, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Two committees have been set up to carry out an investigation into the cause of the collapse of a hydropower dam in Attapeu province in southern Laos, as well as the responsibilities of the officials in charge, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Friday.
The fracture of saddle dam D, one of five auxiliary dams at the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower project, some 560 km southeast of Lao capital Vientiane, resulted in massive flooding on July 23 which has killed 35 people with 99 remaining missing. Over 6,000 more have been left homeless.
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on Wednesday issued two separate Prime Ministerial Decisions to formally establish the committees.
The decisions were issued just one day after the cabinet agreed on the move at an extraordinary meeting.
The first committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Government Inspection Authorities (GIA), Bounthong Chitmany, is mandated to investigate the cause of the collapse of the dam wall.
The 14-member committee comprises representatives of various ministries and organizations.
