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Three days after a catastrophic wall of water, mud, and rock tore through Nepal's Himalayan valleys, the scale of the disaster is still coming into focus. Nepalese authorities say at least 579 people are now confirmed dead, and nearly 2,000 remain missing. The casualty situation in China is not yet clear.
And, tonight, the danger is not over. Authorities are closely watching lakes formed in the wake of that glacier collapse amid fears of further flooding.
In Nepal, the violent floods that raged through these valleys two days ago left haunting reminders, the banks of the Trishuli River now awash in gray mud, within these communities, cries of grief and trauma and warnings of more danger.
Police officers rode through the streets today shouting, "Stay away from the river," as residents, still shaken, ran to higher ground. Officials are monitoring a number of lakes formed by landslides overflowing. Crammed with debris, they present a high risk of more flooding.
Suraj Sigdel, Mercy Corps: "I have seen so many disasters, but this one, with the level of devastation, it's very difficult for me."
Suraj Sigdel is the Nepal country director for the aid organization Mercy Corps. He told the "News Hour" search operations were paused today after the new flood alerts went out.
Nepal's army says it has pulled 350 people to safety from this tunnel running underneath a hydropower plant. Officials believe more than 100 people are still trapped inside. China state broadcaster showed Premier Li Qiang today visiting the flood zone in Tibet, where emergency crews have relied on inflatable rafts.
Nepal's army has used helicopters to pluck people from their rooftops. Despite offers from international rescue teams, Nepalese officials say their in-country rescuers are sufficient for now. The U.S. State Department says it is sending Nepal $500,000 in assistance. The Red Cross says more than $30 million is needed for its response.
Based on satellite imagery and on-the-ground data, scientists now believe the bedrock underneath the Himalayan glacier collapsed. The massive rock fell more than half-a-mile down, shattering debris into the valley's rivers, which surged with deadly force into villages. Experts say climate change, if not a sole cause, may contribute to such phenomena.