To elaborate some more: as the others have said, it means "only", but it also carries the meaning of "more to come", so the number isn't final yet. I wouldn't use it (but "nur" instead) when talking about a plane crash years ago where no victims are being recovered any more, for example.

Punk H hat Recht! :) "erst 196 der 298 Opfer" = "only 196 of the 298 victims"

Nur *only*