Daughter of Latvians missing in Nepal: 'I still firmly believe' they will return

A week has passed since contact was lost with the parents of Klaudija Fūrmane, niece of Latvian singer Ella, following a disaster in Nepal. She marked the anniversary with a heartfelt social media post. Her parents are among 33 Latvian nationals currently listed as missing by Nepal's Tourism Department.

In her post, Fūrmane writes that the past week has brought emotions and life lessons more powerful than words can express. She says she continues to firmly believe that nothing in life happens by chance and that everything unfolds according to a plan, even one not yet understood. She reflects that people usually live believing they have time — that nothing bad will happen to them or those they love — until a single moment turns everything upside down.

A call to cherish loved ones

Fūrmane urges readers to consider what truly matters in life: possessions, money and achievements, or family, love and time spent with those closest to the heart. She warns against clinging to the material world while forgetting how fragile everything taken for granted really is. She encourages people to keep loved ones close, call them, make time for them, and tell them they are loved — today, not someday — since no one knows which conversation, hug or 'I love you' might be the last.

The post includes a photo of Mount Kailash in Tibet, a destination her parents had long dreamed of reaching and finally did. She closes by expressing hope that the love and prayers her parents have given to others will find their way back to them.

Scale of the disaster

As previously reported, a glacier collapse on 26 August triggered a flow of ice debris and, subsequently, water and mud from a glacial lake, causing extensive damage in both Nepal and China. As of 2 September, the confirmed death toll had reached 1,127, with a further 4,858 people still considered missing.

A large group of Latvian tourists organised by the yoga community 'Yantra' was near the epicentre of the disaster, along with a smaller group travelling with the local company 'Mighty Himalayan Trek'. Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that three Latvian nationals who were in the region were unharmed by the mudslide, while 33 remain listed as missing.