6 October 2019

An explosion...caused by rock blasting for a Chinese cement plant in northern Laos tore through a village, killing at least one person and injuring more than 20 others, residents said.

Houses and vehicles were also wrecked by the blast in Phonemany village, Nam Bak district, Luang Prabang province.

The explosion was much more powerful than usual from rock blasting at the area and it appears that villagers were not warned in advance....

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A villager...added: "The Chinese factory never warns villagers of the blasts in advance." [...]

Villagers said at least one person was killed and more than 20 were injured.

[...]

The operator of the Chinese cement plant that has been running for some years near the village could not immediately be reached for comment.

The rapid proliferation of Chinese-owned industrial, hydropower, mining and tourism projects in Laos has caused friction with local residents over pollution, loss of farmland and economic compensation for displaced villagers.