At least three people have been confirmed dead after flash flooding caused by tropical storm Ketsana hit southern provinces of Laos on Tuesday night, according to unofficial reports.

The storm hit four provinces, leaving two people dead in Savannakhet and killing one in Attapeu. Xekong and Saravan were also severely affected, according to Director General of the Social Welfare Department under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Pasith Detphommathed.

The flash flooding has passed and the storm has weakened, but many communities in the provinces are cut off from roads and any form of communication.

Road links between Xekong and Attapeu provinces have been interrupted, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

Officials are as yet unable to ascertain the exact number of fatalities and the extent of the damage, as information is still being collected and numerous villages are yet to be reached.

In Xekong province, about 30 villages of 900 families were inundated by flood waters caused by the rising level of the Xekong River and water pouring down from surrounding hillsides.

The four districts of Kaleum, Lamam, Thataeng and Dakcheung were affected, of which Kaleum and Lanam were the hardest hit, according to Xekong provincial Deputy Governor, Mr Lieng Khamphoune.

“Many houses were swept away or had roofs blown off. Several villages are still cut off from any communication,” he said.

Officials were unable to reach many villages for some time after the storm due to continuing heavy running water, Mr Lieng added.

Residents of communities that were reached by officials were relocated, but had to leave all their belongings behind.

The rescued victims have been taken to schools on higher ground or to stay with relatives.

Mr Lieng said provincial officials were deployed yesterday to all affected areas to collect information on fatalities, loss of property and assistance requirements and the data is expected to be ready soon.

Provincial authorities have already mobilised initial assistance contributed by organisations and members of the public, which includes food and clothing.

The government taskforce in charge of disaster relief, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Lieutenant General Douangchay Phichith, and local officials are working in the affected provinces to assist people and distribute food, clothing and other essential items.

This includes two trucks loaded with clothes, food and tents, according to Mr Pasith.

With many villages remaining isolated and in remote areas, officials are using helicopters to deliver aid relief. The government has ordered the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to buy 100 tonnes of rice to distribute to people affected by the storm.

The government is working closely with international and civil organisations as well as individuals to mobilise aid relief.

The Lao Red Cross is drafting a plan to mobilise donations and support from donors and counterparts in friendly countries for distribution, according to Lao Red Cross President Dr Snivourast Sramany.

The European Commission will fast-track an additional two million euros of humanitarian aid to help the victims of Ketsana, according to a press statement from the commission.

This amount, which comes on top of two million euros of aid announced yesterday for the Philippines , is for Vietnam , Cambodia and Laos .

The government and supporting bodies are working hard to amass funding but they are far short of the resources they need.

People who want to donate to the relief fund can contact the Lao Red Cross on 021-250000 or 020-6771253.