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🇱🇻 Latvia /Disasters & Emergencies

Rescuers reach Nepal border point and continue searching for survivors, Latvia says

From Delfi Latvia · () Latvian

Translated from Latvian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • Rescue teams reached a northern Nepal border point while searching for 33 Latvian citizens still missing after the disaster.
  • Latvia said more than 20,000 people were involved, and officials were coordinating data exchanges, DNA samples and available surveillance footage with Nepal and other countries.
  • Latvian officials said rescue operations would continue and that hope remained, although time was becoming a major concern.

Rescuers searching for 33 Latvian citizens missing in Nepal have reached a border point in the country’s north, but officials still have no new information about the group. Edīte Medne, director of Latvia’s Foreign Ministry Consular Department, said the search continued in places where air pockets might have survived and people could still be found alive.

More than 20,000 people are involved in the rescue operation, according to information received by Latvia’s representative in Nepal. That means additional rescuers are not currently considered necessary, although specialized equipment for checking tunnels remains in short supply. “The rescue operation is continuing, and we currently have no information that it is planned to stop anytime soon,” Medne said.

The rescue operation is continuing, and we currently have no information that it is planned to stop anytime soon.

· Edīte MedneLatvia’s Foreign Ministry consular chief described the continuing search in Nepal.

Latvian and Nepali authorities are also working to speed up the exchange of information and data. Latvia’s consular representative met Nepalese police and Interpol officials, while relatives of all 33 missing Latvian citizens provided samples for possible DNA comparisons. “We hope that we will receive a response from Nepal as soon as possible,” Medne said.

We hope that we will receive a response from Nepal as soon as possible.

· Edīte MedneShe referred to the DNA samples submitted by relatives of the missing Latvian citizens.

Authorities are seeking surveillance footage from the border crossing. Of 27 cameras, recordings from only two were available, and those covered a very short period. Latvia’s State Police continued efforts to obtain more information, while the Latvian embassy in China worked with Chinese institutions. Several countries’ diplomatic missions were coordinating the response, led by the United States, and Canada had sent representatives to Nepal.

The last known communication with the guide of the largest Latvian group occurred on Aug. 27 from the Chinese side of the border. Medne said reports had earlier arrived of people from Australia and Canada who were rescued and later managed to contact relatives. “There is still hope, although, of course, time is not our ally,” she said.

There is still hope, although, of course, time is not our ally.

· Edīte MedneShe acknowledged the continuing possibility of survivors while warning about the passage of time.
About this summary

Originally published by Delfi Latvia in Latvian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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