Relatives of 20 missing Nepalis in Latvia submit DNA samples

Relatives of 20 Latvian citizens missing in Nepal have submitted DNA samples to the State Police for possible identification of the dead, with five more samples expected on Monday, LSM reported, citing the State Police.

First-degree relatives of the missing Latvian citizens, including parents and children, have been invited to provide samples voluntarily at the State Police Forensic Department.

Three Latvian residents were not injured in the flood-triggered mudslide in Nepal, while 33 are currently considered missing, according to information published on Sunday.

Latvia’s honorary consul in Nepal told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that only some of the bodies found in the flood-affected region had been identified. The remaining bodies were being kept in temporary storage facilities and hospitals.

Nepalese authorities said that many of the dead could no longer be identified because of the condition of their remains. Continued storage also posed infection and epidemic risks, so the responsible authority in Chitwan district decided to bury all the remains with dignity.

DNA samples will be taken from each body and registered before burial, according to information received by the Foreign Ministry. The samples provided by relatives in Latvia could help identify Latvian citizens more quickly if necessary.

Relatives can submit samples at several locations in Latvia after contacting representatives of the State Police Forensic Department to verify their identity and arrange a time and place. They must bring an identity document.