South Korean companies are joining efforts to help victims of massive flooding after an under-construction hydroelectric dam collapsed in southern Laos last month, leaving thousands of people homeless.

Korean conglomerate SK Group, the parent company of SK Engineering and Construction Co. (SK E&C), has dispatched its second batch of emergency relief team consisting of 22 medical personnel to Laos for relief work. The team is responsible for offering medical service such as operations to about 200 residents in treatment at clinics at state hospitals in Attapeu Province where the dam collapsed. SK Group had also dispatched its first batch of 200 relief workers who launched construction of temporary housing for 150 families.

SK E&C won the Xe Namnoy Dam construction project in 2012 with Korea’s public power supplier Korea Western Power Co., Lao Holding State Enterprise, and Thailand’s power producer Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Pcl. The stakeholders in the project established a joint investment venture Xe-Pian Xe Namnoy Power Company.

SK Group, meanwhile, has also delivered a total 120 tons of relief items via military transport aircraft and private aircrafts, including 50 tons of each food and medical supplies and household items as well as 10 tons of clothing.

Earlier, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won had also met with Laos Ambassador to Korea Khamsouay Keodalavong at the embassy in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, and delivered $10 million in relief funds.

In addition to SK Group, Samyang Foods Co., a leading supplier of instant noodles, also said on Wednesday that it donated 800 boxes of instant ramen through its trading partner in the Southeast Asian country to help victims affected by the flooding.

Korea’s retail giant Lotte Group also provided relief items to flood victims and donated $100,000 to be used for restoration work in damaged areas.

Korea’s real estate conglomerate Booyoung Group also donated $100,000 to the National Disaster Prevention and Control Committee under Laos’ Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to be used for assistance and salvage work.

By Kang Doo-soon and Lee Eun-joo

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]