A world-renowned forensic scientist has stated that some bodies from the recent Nepal-Tibet flood disaster may never be recovered, and some that are found may remain unidentified. Prof Richard Bassed, head of forensic medicine at Melbourne’s Monash University, noted that authorities are struggling to find and identify the dead following last week’s flash flood, which has left over 1,250 people confirmed dead and more than 5,000 missing.
Prof Bassed, who previously assisted in identifying victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami and Australia’s 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, explained that difficult terrain, inadequate communications, and limited resources are all hampering efforts. He suggested that bodies could be washed away or buried under mud, and that some may not be found until next year.
Authorities in Nepal and Tibet face “extreme challenges,” according to Prof Bassed. These include the risk of further mudslides, the complexities of international coordination, and the potential for local mortuaries and infrastructure to be overwhelmed. Nepali police have urged relatives of missing tourists to provide fresh blood samples for DNA profiling and passport-sized photographs to aid identification.
While rapidly improving DNA techniques will be used, Prof Bassed indicated that many matches in Nepal will rely on DNA or pictures, as fingerprints may no longer be usable. He also mentioned that work is ongoing to use AI and facial recognition technology for disaster victim identification, but its widespread use is limited by access and controversy.