What should be done to prevent flooding in Vientiane?

Heavy rain in recent days has caused flooding in many parts of the city.   Drainage channels are often blocked by debris because many are near construction sites, while more and more development is taking place on areas of natural drainage, which are susceptible to flooding. Although the authorities say they will fix this problem every year, flooding continues to affect the city. Vientiane Times asked around for opinions on this inconvenient state of affairs.  

Mr Soukthavy, a resident of Xaysettha district, Vientiane: I think there are many causes of flooding in Vientiane, but one of the main issues is that marshland, lakes and streams that act as natural sinks for water have been built on. So, when there’s heavy rain, flooding occurs because the water has nowhere else to go. Everything has a limited life span, but roads and drainage channels will last longer if they’re well maintained. Sometimes, I see people cleaning roads but they push their garbage and waste into drains. When drains get clogged, there’s always a problem. Everyone should join forces to keep drainage channels uncluttered so as to prevent flooding and damage.   
  
Ms Sone Vonvilay, a resident of Sikhottabong district, Vientiane: This is a big problem in Vientiane and there are many places that flood after heavy rainfall, which makes life inconvenient and affects transport. Of course, everyone should be prepared to protect themselves and their property, especially people who live in low-lying areas. It would be good if the government had better development plans in place and forbade construction on marshland and areas that naturally drain off water.
Mr Sanye, a government official from Savannakhet province: Flooding can be very dangerous as the water can inundate everything, including farmland, roads, bridges and houses. Floodwater can also affect our health if it carries pathogens. We should consider how to prevent the problems caused by floods. Of course, we can’t stop the rains and flooding, but we can prevent or avoid the impacts to a certain extent. Everyone, particularly people who are at risk, should be aware of the situation and be prepared at all times. 
Ms Chan, a resident of Vientiane: During the rainy season there can be downpours at any time, which often lead to flooding. This means we must be on our guard and have a good plan in place to avoid the destructive effects of rapidly flowing water and keep our belongings safe. Everyone, especially people who live near rivers, should be cautious and closely monitor water levels. They should be ready to protect themselves and their property if flooding should occur. If there is an emergency, we should help each other to save lives and quickly inform the authorities. And we should carefully follow weather forecasts on radio, television, newspapers and social media. 
Ms Tik, a resident of Xaythany district, Vientiane: The authorities employ people to clean the streets but local residents need to be more responsible and make sure their rubbish doesn’t get into drains. If everyone did this, it would ease the flooding problem and also help reduce the amount of dust and mud on our roads. The authorities need to pay more attention to drains and do a better job of cleaning them before the rainy season begins.

By Lamphone Pasanthong
(Latest Update August9, 2022)