Death Toll Passes 540, Hundreds Still Missing in Nepal's Catastrophic Glacier-Triggered Flood

The death toll keeps climbing in Nepal following a catastrophic flooding event that unfolded on Wednesday. Here is the latest on the search and rescue efforts as well as what caused the deadly flooding.

Frantic Search Underway for Flooding Survivors in Nepal

At least 543 people have been confirmed dead across Nepal and Tibet, with roughly 1,000 to more than 1,500 still reported missing after a glacier collapse triggered massive flooding along the border between the two nations. Search and rescue crews dug through the mud and rock on Thursday searching for survivors.

Disturbing videos show rivers of water and mud easily overtaking buildings and people as the flooding began at about 9 am local time on Wednesday. The initial torrent of water came from a glacier collapse near Langtang Lirung peak along the Nepal-China border. Officials are now telling residents to remain well away from the Bhote Koshi, Narayani, and Trishuli rivers as the dangerous conditions persist.

More than 1,500 people have been rescued or treated for injuries, according to Nepal Police, with 8,380 police personnel deployed to the region. Dozens of bridges and almost 25 miles of roads were damaged by the flow of water and mud, exacerbating the search and rescue operation.