Laos News Roundup: Landslide Fatalities, Poverty Reduction Successes, and Diplomatic Engagements

A landslide in Tha Bak village, Khamkeut District, Borikhamxay Province, has claimed the lives of three people, including a mother and her two children, after their home was buried following days of heavy rainfall, provincial authorities reported. In a contrasting development, Attapeu Province has successfully lifted 30,838 families out of poverty between 2021 and 2025, with 88.32% of households now above the poverty line, according to provincial authorities. This highlights significant progress in poverty reduction efforts. On the diplomatic front, the Residence of France in Vientiane hosted a reception on July 14, French National Day, welcoming over 400 guests. The event brought together representatives of Lao authorities, the diplomatic corps, the business community, civil society, and the French community in Laos. Additionally, the Embassy of Vietnam in Laos, in collaboration with the Vietnamese Cultural Center in Laos and Stratocom (Unitech) Company, held a special screening of the film "Red Rain (Mưa Đỏ)" in Vientiane Capital on July 16. This event commemorated the 49th anniversary of the Laos-Vietnam Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (July 18, 1977–July 18, 2026). Meanwhile, traffic congestion in Vientiane Capital has worsened, attributed to a combination of malfunctioning traffic lights, poor roadside parking, traffic violations, inadequate drainage during heavy rains, and the increasing number of vehicles on the roads.