Key facts
- 1,399 people have died in Nepal following a flood caused by a glacial collapse.
- Only 105 bodies have been identified and handed over to families.
- About 5,200 people, including 636 foreigners, are still missing.
- DNA samples have been collected from 1,206 bodies and 1,889 family members.
- Challenges in locating the missing include narrow airspace, difficult terrain, and large amounts of debris.
Weeks after a devastating flood caused by a glacial collapse in Nepal, authorities are struggling to identify the recovered bodies and provide answers to families of the missing. Out of 1,399 people killed, only about 7% of the bodies have been identified and handed over to relatives. Approximately 5,200 people, including 636 foreigners, remain unaccounted for. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has collected DNA samples from over 1,200 bodies and nearly 1,900 family members in an effort to identify the deceased. Challenges such as difficult mountainous terrain, narrow airspace, and extensive debris are hindering the search and rescue operations. Despite some remarkable rescues of individuals trapped in hydropower plant tunnels, the flow of information regarding the rescue efforts has slowed, causing distress to families of foreign nationals.