Disaster victim identification
- Procedure
In a disaster with many victims, identification follows ordered phases: scene, postmortem exam, antemortem data and reconciliation.
What it is
Disaster victim identification (DVI) is the method used to identify the victims of an event with many deaths, natural or man-made. INTERPOL's guide, updated every five years, is the globally accepted standard. It organises the work into phases: scene, postmortem examination, collection of antemortem data, reconciliation and review. Identification rests on primary methods (fingerprints, teeth, DNA) and is decided by an identification board or the competent authority. Visual recognition is not considered reliable.
What to document
- The unique number of each body or fragment, and the exact place of recovery.
- Postmortem findings on standard forms, kept separate from antemortem data.
- Belongings associated with each body, without assuming they are theirs.
- Chain of custody for each sample and each belonging.
How it is done
- Scene: recover bodies, fragments and belongings; give each a unique number and record where it lay.
- Postmortem: mortuary examination with fingerprints, odontology, DNA sampling, imaging and description.
- Antemortem: collect data on the missing (dental, medical and fingerprint records, samples from relatives).
- Reconciliation: specialists compare postmortem and antemortem data.
- Identification board: reviews the evidence and confirms identity; then the certificate is issued and the body released.
- Review: assess the operation to improve future responses.
Next step: what to do and document
- At the scene, treat the living first; do not move bodies without recording their position except to rescue.
- Do not release bodies on visual recognition in a disaster: wait for identification by primary methods.
- If you work in the mortuary, describe each body or fragment with its unique number and keep DNA samples.
- Support families with clear information and respect; refer for psychological support.
- Look after the team: shifts, personal protection and emotional support.
Common mistakes
- Putting parts of different bodies under one number.
- Identifying by documents or clothing found on the body without confirmation.
- Mixing antemortem and postmortem data on the same form.
- Releasing bodies hastily, before identification is complete.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
What are the phases of disaster victim identification according to INTERPOL?
Scene, postmortem examination, collection of antemortem data, reconciliation and review of the operation.
Why are bodies not released on visual recognition in a disaster?
Because bodies may be disfigured and families' stress causes errors; INTERPOL regards it as unreliable.
Who confirms a victim's identity in a disaster identification operation?
An identification board or the competent authority, after reviewing the reconciliation of postmortem and antemortem data.
Connections
Educational content on forensic and legal medicine; not legal advice and no substitute for the technical guides of Colombia's National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences. Laws change: each page links the official text and says when it was last checked. For a real case, follow the guide in force and ask the competent authority.
Sources: Disaster Victim Identification Guide (2023) (INTERPOL, 2023); Disaster victim identification (fact sheet) (INTERPOL, 2023).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.