Chinese authorities have officially confirmed that all 33 missing Latvian nationals had been in China and have no information indicating that the travellers crossed the border back into Nepal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) told LETA.
According to the MFA, this means that the Latvian nationals were most likely on the Tibetan side of the Himalayas when the catastrophic floods and mudslides struck. Chinese authorities have also asked Latvia to provide DNA samples for comparison.
It was previously reported that belongings belonging to the travellers had been found on the Chinese side near the border crossing. The MFA is currently determining whether the items will be photographed and whether the images will be made available for identification. Meanwhile, Red Cross DNA experts are expected to arrive in Nepal this week to speed up and facilitate the comparison of samples.
MFA Consular Department representative Jurģis Barkāns, who is currently in Nepal, is also exploring options for transporting to Latvia the travellers’ belongings left behind at hotels.
The MFA noted that the amount of belongings must first be established
and it must be determined whether the items can be identified. Arrangements could then be made with transport companies to bring them to Latvia.
The MFA stressed that not all relatives have received or fully understood the information sent last week regarding the necessary steps and formalities. Relatives have been sent a detailed explanation compiling information from the Ministry of Welfare, Ministry of Justice, Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, and Ministry of Education and Science. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Justice will hold a meeting with relatives to explain the information provided and answer their questions.
The MFA is also asking relatives who are not currently on the ministry’s contact list but believe they should receive information directly to get in touch. The ministry stressed that it is currently important for all relatives to obtain a certificate confirming the travellers’ status as missing persons. The Latvian nationals have been placed on an international missing persons list, and relatives need the relevant certificate to complete other formalities.
The Chancery of the President of Latvia has also asked the MFA to contact the Ombudsman, who is prepared, where possible, to advise both the ministry and the relatives of the missing people.
Information about this option has been sent to the relatives.
As previously reported, the collapse of a glacier on the 26th of August triggered a flow of ice debris, causing water and mud to surge from a glacial lake and resulting in widespread destruction in Nepal and China. As of the 3rd of September, the confirmed death toll had reached 1,252, while another 4,216 people were considered missing.
A large group of Latvian tourists organised by yoga enthusiasts from Yantra was also near the epicentre of the disaster, while a smaller number of Latvian tourists were in the disaster zone as part of a group organised by the local company Mighty Himalayan Trek. The MFA is aware that three Latvian residents who were in the region at the time were not affected by the flood-triggered mudslide in Nepal, while 33 are currently considered missing.
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