Laos dam collapse leaves at least 17 dead and hundreds missing as 5 BILLION litres of water escapes

AT LEAST 17 people were killed and hundreds are missing today after a hydropower dam in Laos caved and unleashed 5billion litres of water, reports claim.

The Xepian-Xe Nam Noy collapse sparked flash floods in six villages in the Attapeu province late last night, according to the Laos News Agency.

Cops this morning confirmed 17 bodies have been pulled from the water, with scores more expected to be found.

Officals say "hundreds of people are missing" and more than 6,000 have been made homeless, it added.

Officials brought in boats to help evacuate locals in the San Sai district after water levels suddenly rose, ABC Laos news reported.

It is unclear what caused the collapse but environmental groups have raised concerns about Laos' hydropower ambitions for years.

Their fears included the negative impact the dams had on the Mekong River, its flora and fauna and the rural communities which depend on it.

Local authorities are pleading with the government to provide immediate emergency aid including food, water, clothing and medicine.

Footage posted by the news network showed villagers stopping to watch fast-flowing water from the side of a river bank.

Laos, one of Asia's poorest and most secretive countries, has plans to become the "battery of Asia" by selling power to its neighbours through a series of hydropower dams.

The £915m dam was being built by the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Power Company (PNPC).

A number of other companies including Thailand's Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, South Korea's Korea Western Power andstate-run Lao Holding State Enterprise were also involved.

The 410 megawatt capacity dam was meant to begin commercial operations by 2019, according to the venture's website.