"Sinkhole Prompts Evacuation of 38 Households in Vientiane, Four Still Missing", The Laotian Times, 15 January 2026

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has ordered the immediate evacuation of 38 households from high-risk areas of Thongmang village in Xaythany district, Vientiane, following a deadly sinkhole collapse earlier this month.

The order followed inspection by Vice Minister Chansaweng Bounyong. He visited the affected area after a sinkhole opened on 2 January. [...].

The 2 January incident marked the fifth sinkhole in the area since May 2025 and the first to result in four people missing. [...].

Concerns intensified on 11 January when a sixth sinkhole emerged in the same location [...].