As previously reported, since Sunday, relatives of those missing in Nepal can contact the State Police to voluntarily submit DNA samples, which will be used for the identification of the deceased if necessary. The Honorary Consul of Latvia in Nepal informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) that among the deceased found in the flood-affected region, only a few individuals have been identified so far. The other bodies are in temporary storage facilities and hospitals. According to Nepalese authorities, many of the deceased can no longer be identified due to the condition of the remains. Further storage poses a risk of spreading infections and epidemics, so the responsible authority in Chitwan District has decided to bury all remains with the necessary norms and respect for the deceased. Before burial, DNA samples will be taken and registered for each deceased, according to information received by the Latvian MFA. To expedite the identification of Latvian citizens missing in Nepal, their closest relatives of the first degree — parents and children — are encouraged to voluntarily submit DNA samples at the Forensic Department of the State Police of Latvia. Samples can be submitted at several locations in Latvia. It is necessary to contact representatives of the Forensic Department in advance, confirm one’s identity, and arrange a time and place for submission. In Riga and the Riga region, arrangements for sample submission can be made by calling 67208733, in the Vidzeme region — 64201342, in the Kurzeme region — 63404585, in the Zemgale region — 29211621, and in the Latgale region — 65403306. A valid identification document must be presented. As reported, three residents of Latvia were not harmed as a result of the landslide caused by the flooding in Nepal, but another 33 people are currently considered missing. On August 26, the collapse of a glacier triggered a flow of ice debris, causing water and mud to surge from a glacial lake. The natural disaster led to widespread destruction in Nepal and China. As of Monday morning, at least 900 people have died as a result of the disaster, and another 4,793 are listed as missing. A large group of tourists from Latvia was also near the epicenter of the disaster.
