Forest Fire (38996 ha) in Laos 27 Feb 2023

Event summary

This forest fire is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

GDACS ID WF 1012503
Countries: Laos
Start Date - Last detection*: 27 Feb 2023 - 17 Mar 2023
Duration (days): 18
People affected: 25903 in the burned area
Burned area: 38996 ha
More Info: Global Wildfire Information System

*(Last detection of the thermal anomaly of the fire)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.

Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.


Impact Timeline

IDAlert colorGDACS ScorePopulation AffectedBurned Area (ha)Last UpdateSource
1 0.5 0 5240 04 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
2 0.5 9167 21367 05 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
3 0.5 9167 22834 06 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
4 0.5 14588 24899 07 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
5 0.5 14588 31698 08 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
6 0.5 14588 32954 09 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
7 0.5 25903 34834 10 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
8 0.5 25903 35299 11 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
9 0.5 25903 36526 12 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
10 0.5 25903 37387 13 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
11 0.5 25903 38996 14 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
12 0.5 25903 40012 15 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
13 0.5 25903 40273 16 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
14 0.5 25903 41676 17 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS
15 0.5 25903 42083 18 Mar 2023 04:00 GWIS

Fires Joined

This event includes other close identified fires:

Exposed population

The forest fire happened in Laos , Province of Champasak (population 531,170) . The nearest places are Pakxé, and Muang Không.

Radius Population
10 km 31000 people
5 km 14000 people
2 km 9200 people
1 km 6100 people
Burned Area 26000 people

Land Cover area Source
Settlement 760 m2 GHSL
Protected Area 24714 ha WDPA


Affected Provinces

Region Province Country Population
Champasak Laos 530000 people
Attapeu Laos 91000 people
Stoeng Treng Cambodia 53000 people

Affected populated places

Name Region Province Country City class Population Distance
Pakxé Champasak Laos City 88000 people 66 km
Muang Không Champasak Laos City 13000 people 85 km

see full list

Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Name IATA Code Elevation (m) Usage Runway type IFR Runway Length (ft) Distance
Attopeu AOU 105 Civ. Unpaved No 4300 57 km
Pakse PKZ 101 Civ. Paved Yes 5300 69 km
Khong Khong Island KOG unknown 0 88 km
Saravane VNA 175 Civ. Unpaved No 4900 107 km

Ports

Dams

Reservoir Dam Name River Year Distance
Houayho Houayho 1999 61 km
Noi Sirindhorn Lam Dom Noi 1971 105 km
Pak Mun Mun 1990 106 km

Nuclear plants

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.