Officials in Vietnam and Laos are calling the extreme flooding this month the worst in recent memory after Tropical Storm Kammuri battered the area two weeks ago and a series of rainstorms after Kammuri caused landslides and river overflows. 160 deaths in Vietnam and four in Laos are being blamed on the floods.

Though in the heart of the annual monsoon season now, southeast Asia has received a significantly higher amount of rain this summer than it typically receives in a monsoon season. Also, extreme amounts of rain from Kammuri in a short amount of time triggered far more extreme flooding than the area is accustomed to seeing.

The Laotian capital of Vientiane was completely submerged in flood waters from the flooding, due to the overflow of the adjacent Mekong river. In the dry season, the Mekong, the world's 11th longest river, is less than a meter deep, however, during the flooding the river was over 14 meters. The Mekong's flood has also been blamed on Chinese dam projects that forced higher concentrations of water into Vietnam and Laos.

Sunnier and drier weather have allowed authorities to begin the lengthy cleanup project. Waters have receded back to normal levels since the peak of the flooding two weeks ago.