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ACTION EA-09
INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 ISO-00 AID-05 FBO-02 OPR-02 OC-06 CCO-00
PER-01 A-01 SY-05 CIAE-00 INR-07 NSAE-00 /051 W
--------------------- 085150
R 110956Z AUG 76
FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6855
INFO AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMCONSUL HONG KONG
AMCONSUL UDORN
CINCPAC
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE VIENTIANE 1927
CINCPAC FOR POLAD
E.O. N/A
TAGS: AEMR, ECRE, LA
SUBJECT: FLOOD DANGER IN VIENTIANE
SUMMARY: THE DANGER OF FLOODING IN VIENTIANE IS EXPECTED
TO BE ACUTE DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF AUGUST AND THE FIRST TWO
WEEKS OF SEPTEMBER.
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CLAIM TO HAVE ADEQUATELY
PREPARED FOR THE SEASONAL RISE OF MEKONG BUT THERE APPEAR TO BE
DEFICIENCIES IN THE DIKE SYSTEM. END SUMMARY.
1. KETSADONG DETVONGSA, SPOKESMAN FOR THE URBAN WORKS
COMMITTEE FOR THE PREFECTURE OF VIENTIANE, ON AUGUST 11
TOLD EMBOFF THAT HE EXPECTED THE MEKONG TO REACH THE
SAME FLOOD LEVEL REGISTERED IN THE DISASTROUS 1966 VIENTIANE
FLOODS.
2. KETSADONG DETAILED FLOOD PROTECTION MEASURES ALREADY
TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE AND EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT NEITHER
THE CITY OF VIENTIANE NOR ITS WAT TAY AIRPORT COULD EXPERIENCE
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FLOODING THIS YEAR AS THEY HAD IN BOTH 1966 AND 1971.
3. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE ORIGINAL 12 METER DIKES HAD BEEN
HEIGHTENED TO 13 TO 13.7 METERS AND NOTED THAT FLOOD CONTROL
CANALS AND GATES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.
4. THE EMBASSY'S ENGINEER HAS EXAMINED THE DIKE SYSTEM AT
VARIOUS POINTS, HOWEVER, AND REPORTS THAT THE ADDITIONAL 1 TO 1.7
METERS OF DIRT NEWLY ADDED TO THE OLD DIKES HAS BEEN POORLY
COMPACTED. HE WARNS THAT THE NEW UPPER PORTION OF THE DIKES WILL
PROBABLY DISINTEGRATE IF THE MEKONG CRESTS ABOVE 12 METERS AND
THE CURRENT CONTINUES TO BE RAPID AS IT IS AT PRESENT. IN THE PAST,
HOWEVER, THE CURRENT HAS NORMALLY SLOWED DOWN WHEN THE WATER
LEVEL PEAKED.
5. THE ONLY MISSION PROPERTY WHICH APPEARS TO BE VULNERABLE TO
FLOODING IS THE EMBASSY CHANCERY AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLEX, BOTH
OF WHICH ARE SURROUNDED BY A 1 METER WALL. BROAD GATE ENTRANCES
TO BOTH WOULD REQUIRE SANDBAGGING. THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLEX AREA
CAN BE PUMPED OUT, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE FEASIBLE TO DO SO IN THE
CHANCERY AREA BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE DRAINAGE.
6. IN CONVERSATION WITH EMBOFF, KETSADONG NOTED ABSENCE OF SANDBAGS
IN
VIENTIANE.
7. GSO IS MONITORING RIVER LEVELS IN THE VIENTIANE AREA AND IS
MONITORING GOVERNMENT BULLETINS OF RIVER LEVELS AT OTHER POINTS
ALONG THE MEKONG. THE EMBASSY IS EXPLORING POSSIBILITY OF
PROCURING SANDBAGS AND PUMPING EQUIPMENT.
CORCORAN
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