THE Philippine government is willing to help Laos, after a deadly torrent of water unleashed by a collapsed dam in the southern region left over 20 people dead and hundreds missing, Malacañang said Friday, July 27.
"The Philippine government is ready to extend any humanitarian assistance in whatever way we can," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement.
More than 6,600 people have been rendered homeless, following the massive flooding caused by the sudden collapse of the Xepian-Xe-Nam Noy Hydropower Dam in Laos, according to reports by official Lao news agency KPL.
KPL reported that the hydropower dam, which collapsed on July 23, was caused by substandard construction.
On Wednesday, July 25, Laoitian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said the collapse of the hydropwer dam was the worst disaster experienced by the small Southeast Asian nation in decades.
Roque said the Philippines conveyed its heartfelt condolences to neighboring Laos.
"We express our sincerest condolences to the government and people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic following the collapse of the hydroelectric power dam," Roque said in a statement.
"Our thoughts are with our Southeast Asian neighbor in these trying times and we pray for the immediate recovery of those who are still missing and unaccounted for," he added. (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)