RCMP sends disaster victim identification specialists to Nepal for flood recovery

Two RCMP disaster victim identification specialists have arrived in Kathmandu to support Canadian authorities operating in the aftermath of flash floods along the Nepal-China border. The floods, which occurred on August 26, claimed over 1,100 lives and left approximately 4,400 people missing in the region. Canadian officials are actively helping international organizations in their efforts to locate survivors.

Global Affairs Canada reports that there are 29 Canadians and permanent residents in Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region still unaccounted for. Senior government officials briefed reporters on September 3, stating that attempts to gather DNA samples from the families of missing Canadians are ongoing. As of now, one Canadian has been found safe, while 29 others are still missing and believed to have been in the region where the flash flood took place.

In Kathmandu, police have resorted to burying dozens of unidentified bodies in trenches due to the overwhelming number of unidentified remains. This report, initially published by The Canadian Press on September 10, 2026, provides an update on the ongoing efforts to recover victims of the devastating flood.