Nepal updates number of missing persons after devastating floods
The situation in Nepal following the catastrophic floods on August 26 remains critical. The Nepalese government has recently updated the casualty toll, raising the number of missing persons to 6,150. This increase, which represents nearly a thousand additional cases compared to the previous report, arises after the consolidation of data from the most affected areas in the Rasuwa district, located on the border with China.
To date, rescue teams have managed to recover 1,403 bodies and human remains. The identification process is a monumental challenge, as only 105 people have been fully identified. Among the recent findings, the location of five bodies was reported at the Upper Trishuli-1 hydroelectric project facilities, a key infrastructure with a capacity of 216 megawatts.
Difficulties in rescue operations
Field operations are facing significant obstacles. The massive accumulation of mud, rocks, and sediment swept up by the current has blocked access to various areas, complicating the work of rescuers and severely damaging local infrastructure. Given the difficulty of identifying bodies, authorities have implemented a genetic testing protocol, collecting DNA samples from nearly 1,300 mortal remains and almost 1,900 relatives of the missing.
For those cases where immediate identification is not possible, photographs, physical traits, and biological samples have been recorded before proceeding with the burials, ensuring that the data is available for future genetic comparisons.
Regional impact and international assistance
The disaster has transcended borders, also affecting Chinese territory, where 43 deaths and 519 missing persons have been recorded. By consolidating the figures from both countries, the total toll of the tragedy rises to 1,446 dead and 6,669 missing, a list that includes numerous tourists and pilgrims who were in the mountainous regions at the time of the event.
The international community has begun to mobilize to provide support:
- Japan: Has donated approximately two million dollars (298 million yen) aimed at strengthening DNA laboratories and has sent specialists to collaborate on identification tasks.
- India: Has authorized an emergency energy supply that will allow Nepal to receive up to 600 megawatts daily for 18 hours, mitigating the electricity deficit caused by the destruction of hydroelectric plants following the floods.
Nepalese authorities are maintaining the deployment of search and recovery teams, as the country faces the enormous challenge of rebuilding its infrastructure and providing answers to the thousands of families awaiting news about their loved ones.
