With rescue efforts still underway, the death toll from catastrophic flash floods and mudslides in Nepal has risen to at least 626 on Saturday, as more than 2,400 people remained missing in the country, including around 90 Americans.
As reported by NBC News, four days since the terrifying flood hit the Nepal-Tibet border, rescue teams are struggling to reach devastated communities amid the scale of the disaster after the torrent of water, ice and debris swept through Himalayan valleys, destroying homes, bridges and other infrastructure.
As families wait for news about their relatives, damaged roads, power outages and fears of further flooding have slowed down rescue efforts.
China has separately reported seven deaths and 554 people missing in its Tibet region, including hundreds of foreigners.
How did the catastrophic floods begin?
The disaster began Wednesday when a large section of ice broke off from a glacier and fell down a slope, triggering the fatal flooding.
Videos from the hardest-hit border regions showed people running as the debris flow swallowed buildings and vehicles, devastated towns and settlements, and severed roads, power and communications.
The State Department said it is not aware of any confirmed American deaths, but the large number of US citizens still unaccounted for has added to the growing uncertainty surrounding the disaster.
On Saturday, helicopters resumed operations in Nepal's flood-hit Nuwakot district after poor weather temporarily halted efforts.
Some aircrafts arrived loaded with boxes and bags of aid, including clothes, instant noodles, crackers and rice, while others returned from the flood-hit areas carrying survivors, among them several babies from the nearby community of Trishuli.
Moreover, rescuers are working "day and night" to search for survivors amid challenging conditions, a UN official said.
