DHAKA: At least 16 people have died and tens of thousands of others have lost homes, land or livestock across Laos in heavy rains.

The United Nations said on Tuesday, reports The Straits Times.

The deaths occurred during flash floods after downpours in the northwestern district of Beng on August 20, the UN’s resident co-ordinator for the impoverished communist country said in a statement.

More than 115,000 people have been affected by the flooding, the statement said, without giving figures for the number left homeless.

Thousands of hectares of rice paddy have been inundated while livestock has been killed in rain since June, it said.

BDST: 1828 HRS, AUG 27, 2013
RoR/RK