33 Latvians still missing after Nepal floods, three confirmed safe

Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has told the LETA news agency that three Latvian citizens have been confirmed unharmed following the devastating flood and mudslide disaster in Nepal, while 33 others remain listed as missing. Nepal's Tourism Department has updated its missing-persons list to include all 33 Latvian nationals reported by relatives to the Consular Department.

On August 29, Latvia's embassy in China reported that another traveler, part of an 80-person group from 19 countries, was safe. A separate Latvian citizen traveling with another tour group in Tibet has also been confirmed safe.

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs wrote on social media that hope remains of finding the missing alive, noting reports that a group of people managed to cross into China shortly before the mudslide struck. Because the area currently has no communications, precise information about them is not yet available. The Foreign Ministry is in contact with Chinese authorities, who have been asked to identify a group of foreigners believed to be in a small mountain town roughly 45 minutes from the border.

DNA sample collection

To speed up potential identification of victims, authorities in Nepal's Chitwan district have decided to bury remains that can no longer be identified, after first collecting DNA samples, due to health and epidemic risks from prolonged storage. DNA samples will also be taken from remains recovered from rivers in India. Close relatives — parents and children — of missing Latvians are being asked to voluntarily submit DNA samples to the State Police Forensic Department, first arranging a time via regional phone lines.

Nepal's rescue service has published a list of survivors, which so far does not include any Latvian nationals. Rescue operations continue in the affected region, which remains without phone or internet connectivity.

The ministry noted that none of the affected tour groups had registered with Latvia's Consular Register, complicating efforts to gather information. The disaster began on August 26 when a glacier collapse triggered floods of water and mud in Nepal and China; by Sunday morning, at least 630 people were confirmed dead and about 3,000 remained missing.