Vientiane authorities have set a compensation package worth LAK 147.93 billion (USD 6.5 million) for residents affected by sinkholes and ground subsidence linked to potash mining activities in Thongmang village, Xaythany district.
According to state media, the compensation was calculated by a special force to help residents affected by ground collapses restore damaged land, crops, buildings, irrigation systems, and roads.
The compensation package includes LAK 97 billion (USD 4.3 million) for damaged land, LAK 29.34 billion (USD 1.3 million) for crops and agricultural production, and LAK 13.82 billion (USD 615,888) for damaged buildings and other structures.
Another LAK 7.67 billion (USD 341,750) will be used to repair and restore irrigation systems and roads affected by the ground subsidence.
The official announcement did not specify how many residents or households are eligible for compensation, whether the package includes the families of the four villagers who have been missing since January, or when payments are expected to be approved and distributed.
The proposed compensation follows a series of sinkhole incidents in Thongmang, where authorities have recorded at least five major ground collapses since May 2025.
The most serious incident occurred on 2 January, when a large sinkhole opened just outside the village, leaving four people missing and prompting authorities to evacuate 38 households. Officials linked the collapses to underground potash mining, which was halted in July 2025 as stabilization work continued.
In June, Vientiane authorities began developing a compensation framework for residents affected by the sinkholes, covering damage to land, crops, agricultural assets and structures.
This latest calculation puts a total value on those losses, but authorities have yet to say when affected residents will receive compensation.
