生せい死し不ふ明めい

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

unknown fate; missing; not known if alive or dead

Used in news reports, official statements, and formal contexts to describe a person whose survival status is unconfirmed. Often appears as 生死不明の or 生死不明となる.

• 地じ震しんで生せい死し不ふ明めいの人ひとがまだ数すう十じゅう人にんいる。

  Dozens of people are still missing after the earthquake.

• 彼かれは事じ故こ後ご、長ながい間あいだ生せい死し不ふ明めいだった。

  He was missing for a long time after the accident.