Flood Hazard Mapping training Course

PWRI, JICA

Title:“Action Plan toward Effective Flood Hazard Mapping in Lao PDR”
Contents:
A/ The role of flood hazard maps to mitigate flood damages in Lao PDR
A-1. the flood status in Lao PDR
A-2. the outline of the present countermeasures for mitigating flooddamages in Lao PDR
A-3. the useful of Flood Hazard Map and the reasons in Lao PDR
B/ The allocation of roles in making flood Hazard maps in Lao PDR
B-1. Organization should hold the main responsibility for making
a fundamental map such as an anticipated Inundation area map
and making disseminating flood hazard maps?
C. The Action Plan of making flood hazard maps in my country”
C-1. Which area do you choose for the target river basin area? Why?
C-2. What do you think is necessary to make flood hazard maps
in the chosen area? Do you have data, maps, or budgets
necessary for making flood hazard maps?
C-3. Propose your own “Action Plan” within the next five years,
C-4. what seems to be a problem in making flood hazard map in LaoPDR?
D. Own Flood hazard map on Ise city
D-1. What is the improvement from the FHM on Ise city?

1Flood Hazard Mapping training Course

PWRI, JICA

A/ The role of flood hazard maps to mitigate flood damages in Lao PDR
1. the flood status in Lao PDR
There are 13 majors floods have occurred in Lao PDR during the past 40years, which was seriously flooded in 1966, 1995, 2001 and 2002. In generalcondition, floods are experienced from August to September in the central
and southern province of the country. In the year 2002, flood was very heavyrained and affected to the territory in Laos. As a result of an effect of strong
Southeast Monsoon and from Wongfong-14 storm, water level at MekongRiver and its tributaries dramatically increases and flood occurs at allregions in the country. Last year (2005) had flooding in the northern andsouthern provinces of Laos, namely Loung Namtha, Phongsaly,
Borikhanxay and was flooded in large the all territory of Lao,as Bokeo,
Louangphabang, Vientiane Municipality, Khammoune, Savannaketh,
saravanh, Champasack and Attapeu. As in last year, flood affected 12provinces, 62 district,
1,142 village and 50,342 families (249,782people); where 8,556 household damages and 3 persons died.
In the year 2002, the flood occupied in many places, mostly along theMekong River and it’s the tributaries such as:o Vientiane Province, there are five districts affected: Homdistrict is located upstream of Nam Ngum reservoir, which 1village and 12 families’ equal 122 people were suffered.Mad
district is flash flood, 2 villages, 16 families equal
94.Thoulakhom district is located downstream of Nam Ngum
reservoir, which 43 families. Sanakham District is located along
the Mekong River, 1 village, 44 families. Kasi District islocated along Nam Niap, here 3 villages and 68 families equal
587 people were suffered.
o Luangnamtha Province, there was 1 District affected
Viengphoukha, which 16 villages and 447 families or equal to2,974 people were suffered from deluge.
o Khammouane Province, there were 4 districts affected:
Ngommalath, there was 27 villages and 624 families’ equal to3,353 people suffered. Mahaxay was 42 villages and 859
families’ equal to 4,507 people suffered.
Hinboune was 60 villages and 6,207 families’ equal 31,171
people suffered. Thakhek District here 51 villages, 860 families(4,558 people).
2

Flood Hazard Mapping training Course

PWRI, JICA

o Oudomxay Province, two Districts affected: Houne here was 18villages and 646 families equal to 3,915 people were suffered.
Bang here were 19 villages and 301 families equal to1,622
people was suffered, in which 01 was died by land slide.
o Borikhamxay Province, in this Province was 5 Districts
affected: Paksan, here were 15 villages, 706 families (3,175people suffered). Thaphabath, here are 21 villages, 1,875villages (8,438 people). Pakkading, 36 villages, 1,801 families(9,198 people). (4) Khamkeuth, 45 villages, 4,812 families(32,013 people), in which 02 persons were died by flash floodand Borikhan, 15 villages, 642 families (3,207 people).
o Savannakhet Province in this Province was affected more thanothers there are 7 Districts: Champhone here are 33 villages and5,418 families equal to 17,184 people suffered, in which 3,437
families are lost. Song Khone: 24 villages and 1,588 families
equal to 7,941 people suffered, in which 1,375 families are lost.
Sonbouly: 18 villages and 2,167 families equal to 10,837
people suffered, in which 800 families are loss. Saybouly: 16villages and 1,678 families equal to 4,742 people suffered, inwhich 948 families are lost. Vilabouly: 17 villages and 580
families equal to 2,900 people suffered, in which 518 families
are lost. Sayphouthong: 4 villages and 177 families equal to884 people suffered, in which 330 families are lost.
Khanthabouly: 8 villages and 369 families equal to 1,845
people suffered, in which 98 families are lost.
o Vientiane Municipality in our capital City are affected 9Districts such as Pakngum, Saysettha, Saythany, Nasaythong,Sisattanak, Sangthong, Chanthabouly, Hadsayfong, andSikhottabongo Xiangkhuang Province in this Province is affected 3 Districts:
Phoukout 3 villages, Kham 6 villages and Pek 18 villages, 176
families (556 people suffered). See table
I hope that flood hazard mapping will be effected to help the farmers, local
communities, local government and others agencies to reduce all loses ofproperties before and during flooding (human, animals, crops).

3

Flood Hazard Mapping training Course

PWRI, JICA

2. the outline of the present countermeasures for mitigating flood
damages in Lao PDR.
Based on the Degree of the Prime Minister of Lao PDR on
Implementation of Water and Water Resource Law, is very clear how theministry and line agency concerned to establish them plan as follow:
o Ministry of Communication Transport Post and Construction
will responsible for structure and non structure measure in thecity, urban and towno Ministry of agriculture and Forestry will responsible for
reducing slash and burn forestry, reforestation , watershedmanagement, irrigation system and provide data of hydrology
and meteorology to all ministries and line agencies concerned
including flood forecast, rainfall forecast and water level
forecast on the TV, radio and newspaper. Especially, prepare
the second agriculture crop to the farmers and communities
after flooding.
o Ministry of Energy and Mining is responsible for flood control
down stream of damso National Disaster Office under Ministry of Labor, Social andwelfare consider, prepare and ask donor for relief and floodresponse. In some cause they responsible for non structure
measure such as flood preparedness in the province, district andcommunities in inundation areas.
o Prime Minister’s Office responsible for the hold system offlood responsibility.
3. the useful of Flood Hazard Map and the reasons in Lao PDR
In term of flood hazard mapping in Lao PDR is not well known for all
government, private sector and local community. However, the governmentof Lao PDR has realized the significant and the usage of flood hazard
mapping. The government has set up the Flood Management Unit,Irrigation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, to work closelywith MRC and LNMC, which is a good opportunity for initial usage toachieve the benefit from flood hazard mapping. As a result, there might be apositive outcome from flood hazard mapping for mitigating of losses ofagriculture land and productivity.

4

Flood Hazard Mapping training Course

PWRI, JICA

In the long term (5/ 10) I could give you comment, because we areshortage of budges resources for various activities of flood reduction. Thecapacity to deal with flood reduction is still limited in term of using theflood reduction technology, knowledge and experience.
B/ The allocation of roles in making flood Hazard maps in Lao PDR
1. which organization should hold the main responsibility for making
a fundamental map such as an anticipated Inundation area map.
Based on the “Water and Water Resources Law” it is not so clear
because it didn’t write any sentence about which organization should be holdthe main responsibility for the making a fundamental map and flood hazard
maps. In Lao PDR, the Department of Topography, which falls under PrimeMinister’ Office is responsible for Topography Map, and there are some theorganizations concerned showed the above.
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has done the flood maps for holdthe Mekong River Basin. In regarding to this issue, the Lao National
Mekong Committee (LNMC) Organization will responsible for
implementing in the future, because they have just established the GIS Unitin their organization and is on going to revise the organization mandate forthe next five year strategy plan (2005-2010); however, the LNMC has
worked together closely with the MRC and will share and collect available
data from line ministries concerned.
2 Which organization should hold the main responsibility for making
and disseminating flood hazard maps?
As the above mentioned the Lao National Mekong Committee should
hold the main responsibility for making and disseminating flood hazard
mapping in Laos with regard to establishing a team making the floodhazard maps. The team should be consisted from line ministries and line
agencies concerned because the LNMC has strong enough to lead making
in this issue. The Mekong River Commission would seek fundresource to support and provide tool to LNMC in term of doing of flood
mitigation program jointly with member riparian countries.
C. The Action Plan of making flood hazard maps in my country
1. Which area do you choose for the target river basin area?
Why?

5Flood Hazard Mapping training Course

PWRI, JICA

Lao PDR constitutes a major part of the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB),
which consists of Thailand, Viet Nam and Cambodia. The LMB had always
been prone to yearly recurrent flooding in the period June to October. The
flooding pattern is never sudden and mainly characterized by slow but
steady rising of the water level and inundation of the alluvial plains.
Therefore, this paper focused on the entire land use and roads network map
infrastructure development plan along the Mekong River and also nearby thesub river in the whole country. Considering the area is very difficult to give
you idea which area that I will choose for target river basin area. However,in my view, I am going to continue to make Action Plan of the Exparticipant (my colleague) who is participated training course last year.
The target area is Borikhan district, Borikhamsai province, because inthis area is located along the Mekong River and also there are many
tributaries which is affected directly to agriculture production, rural
infrastructure and human settlements. I choose this area because is not so far
from central government, that district is affected by flood and flash flood
every year.
As above mentioned, the data of the area is huge important. So, we have towork together between National Disaster Management Office and MekongRiver Committee in term of Flood maps and LNMC to share available
information.
2. What do you think is necessary to make flood hazard maps inthe chosen area? Do you have data, maps, or budgets necessary
for making flood hazard maps?
Government could use FHM as one component for making priority
project of flood control system, FHM could identify which area are the mosturgent to make a improvement and to construct flood control system namely
dike, water gate control, Irrigation, in the reason of mitigating damages,
losses of land use, agriculture field and productivity.
Moreover, in term of resident action based on local community and villager
participation, local resident and farmer would use FHM to analyze the floodlevel and it also save life of the local residents by themselves in case of flood
disaster would be occurred. But it seems to us with lack of data and nobudget for doing site survey.

6Flood Hazard Mapping training Course

PWRI, JICA

3. Propose your own “Action Plan” within the next five years.
ItemDescription
2007

1
2
3

4
5

Year
2008 2009 2010 2010

Prepare report on advantagesof FHM
Proposal to utilize FHM intoRoad network construction plans
Data collection:- historical events of flood- hydrology- topography, and- structural measure system
Identify inundation areas
Fund seeking for:
- FHM producing
4. What seems to be a problem in making flood hazard map in
Lao PDR?

Flood Hazard Mapping is quite new and difficult to make in the shorttime. However, the Lao Government will support idea, but it looks challenge
to make the flood hazard mapping in Lao PDR. There is still variety ofproblem remain as follow:• Shortage of budget for implementing and producing flood
hazard maps.
• Insufficiency of resources such as regulation, tools, lowtechnique, and inexperienced staff for working closely on theseissues.
• Insufficient data for making flood hazard mapping, and• The circumstance of flood between Japan and my home country
is quite difference.
D. Own Flood hazard map on Ise city
1. What is the improvement from the FHM on Ise City?
7

Flood Hazard Mapping training Course

PWRI, JICA

All lecturer, materials, process, concept, theory and group field survey
for practical making the flood hazard map of the Ise City were usefulin this course. Next town watching should spend a lot of time for fieldsurvey because it is quite short time period for doing in this point.
Interviewing the local resident is very useful. If we worked together
with local people we can get much information directly in these target
area. Moreover, refuge route signs should be installed suitablelocation to facilitate to local resident in case of flood occurrence aswell as the FHM should make the both language as English andJapanese. However, this training course provided me a goodchance to know more about Japan, Japanese people andlearn a lot how to make flood hazard map and use it
effectively.

8