Weeks after a devastating flood caused by a glacial collapse in Nepal, authorities have identified only 105 out of 1,399 recovered bodies. Approximately 5,200 people, including 636 foreigners, remain missing as families search for answers amid challenging recovery conditions.
The slow pace of identification and the sheer number of missing persons highlight the immense scale of the disaster and the ongoing humanitarian challenge in Nepal, impacting thousands of families seeking closure and aid.
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.