SOUTH AFRICA — Six South Africans remain unaccounted for following devastating flash floods in Nepal, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has confirmed.
In response to the ongoing disaster, DIRCO announced that it has acted on a formal request from the Nepalese government by coordinating with the South African Police Service (SAPS). This collaboration focuses on the collection and management of DNA profiles from the biological relatives of the missing South African nationals.
The DNA profiles were gathered through the Victim Identification Centre, operating under the SAPS Division of Detectives and Forensic Services. These critical identification materials have subsequently been transmitted to law enforcement authorities in Nepal, as well as to Interpol in Kathmandu, to assist in the identification process.
Beyond the immediate forensic coordination, South African diplomatic missions stationed in New Delhi, India, and Beijing, China, are actively liaising with their respective host governments. This multi-regional diplomatic effort aims to coordinate a comprehensive response to the disaster and ensure all available channels are utilized to locate the missing citizens.
In an official statement, DIRCO addressed the current status of the search efforts. “Regrettably, there is still no confirmation from the authorities in Nepal or China/Tibet regarding any of the six South African nationals,” the department stated. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates to the families as more information becomes available.”
Authorities continue to work across borders to resolve the situation, with forensic and diplomatic resources fully engaged in supporting the affected families and assisting international recovery efforts.
