Latvian Foreign Ministry to send consular official to Kathmandu over Nepal disaster

Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs will soon dispatch an official from its Consular Department to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, in connection with the natural disaster that struck the region, the ministry confirmed to the LETA news agency. Technical procedures for the trip are currently being finalized, and the ministry said it would provide further details soon.

The ministry noted that Latvia's embassy in Beijing has maintained direct contact with Chinese authorities, including local officials in Tibet, since the disaster occurred. The embassy is also coordinating with the ministry's Consular Department and other institutions that could assist in what officials describe as a very complex situation.

Contact with Chinese authorities

According to the ministry, the Latvian embassy has exchanged information with Chinese authorities, mainly by phone, and has submitted several diplomatic notes, receiving a response note in return. Communication continued over the weekend. Latvia's ambassador to China, Kārlis Eihenbaums, is in direct contact with representatives of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs via the local messaging platform WeChat.

The embassy in Beijing has received from China's Foreign Ministry Consular Department a list of 33 Latvian citizens who had entered, planned to enter, or exited the Gyirong border crossing point. However, Chinese authorities currently do not know the whereabouts of the people on that list. The ministry said Chinese authorities would inform the Latvian embassy as soon as additional information becomes available.

Advice for travelers

The Foreign Ministry is urging travelers to avoid flood-affected areas, follow local media, and comply with announcements and guidance from the Chinese government and local authorities. It is also asking travelers to register with the Consular Register.

As previously reported, a glacier collapse on August 26 triggered a flow of ice debris that caused flooding and mudslides from a glacial lake, resulting in extensive damage in Nepal and China. By Sunday morning, at least 630 people were confirmed dead in the disaster, with around 3,000 still missing. A large group of Latvian tourists was near the epicenter of the disaster; three Latvian nationals were unharmed by the mudslide caused by the floods, while 33 others are currently considered missing.