The Latest: Skorea Sending Relief Team To Lao Dam Disaster

BANGKOK (AP) — The Latest on the collapse of a dam that flooded villages in southeastern Laos (all times local): 1 p.m. The presidential office in South Korea says the government plans to send an emergency relief team to Laos to help victims affected by the collapse of a dam that is part of a hydroelectric project built by a South Korean company. Kim Eui-keum, a spokesman for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, said Wednesday that Moon had ordered help for the rescue efforts as the search was underway an unknown number of people left missing when floodwaters swept through several villages. Builder SK Engineering & Construction is one of two South Korean companies involved in the joint venture responsible for the project, which was due to begin operations in 2019. ___ 11 a.m. Rescuers are searching for hundreds missing in villages flooded when part of a newly built hydroelectric dam was breached in southeastern Laos. SK Engineering & Construction, one of two South Korean partners in the project, said in a statement late Tuesday that the top of one of five auxiliary earth-fill dams at the project had collapsed Sunday night after heavy rains. The cascade from the collapse swept away houses, flooded villages and left more than 6,600 people homeless.Read more on NewsOK.com