Rescue operations resumed across parts of the Himalayas on Friday, as authorities in Nepal and China continued searching for more than 1,000 people still missing following one of the deadliest disasters to hit the region in recent years.

The confirmed death toll has now climbed to 552, according to the latest figures, with 547 deaths reported in Nepal and five in Tibet.

Another 1,473 people have been injured in Nepal, while tens of thousands have been affected by the catastrophic flooding.

The disaster struck on Wednesday after the collapse of a glacier sent an enormous mass of rock, ice, mud, water and debris rushing through Himalayan valleys and river systems.

Rescue operations resume after fears of further flooding

Search and rescue efforts had temporarily been suspended in some areas because debris from the collapse created a barrier lake.

As water levels continued to rise, authorities feared that a sudden overflow or failure of the natural barrier could unleash another destructive flood downstream.

The lake eventually overflowed, but the immediate threat later eased sufficiently for rescue operations to resume.

In Tibet’s Gyirong County, operations were restarted by around noon on Friday after authorities determined that conditions had become manageable.

Rescue teams are now racing against time to reach isolated communities and locate hundreds of people who remain unaccounted for.

547 dead in Nepal and five in Tibet

The scale of the tragedy has increased dramatically since the first reports emerged from the region.

According to the latest figures, 547 people have died in Nepal, while another five fatalities have been confirmed in Tibet, bringing the combined death toll to 552.

In Nepal alone, 1,473 people have been injured.

The enormous flow of water and debris swept through settlements and valleys, destroying or severely damaging homes, roads, bridges and power infrastructure.

The disaster also affected the important route connecting Kathmandu with Lhasa, which is widely used by local communities, tourists, trekkers and religious pilgrims.

More than 1,000 people still missing

Despite the massive rescue operation, more than 1,000 people remain unaccounted for across the affected Himalayan region.

In Tibet’s Gyirong County alone, 558 people were still listed as missing as of Thursday.

The number includes hundreds of foreign visitors who were travelling through the region when the disaster occurred.

The remote mountainous terrain, damaged roads and destroyed bridges have made reaching some of the worst-hit locations extremely difficult.

At least 540 missing are foreign nationals

The tragedy has taken on an international dimension, with at least 540 foreign nationals reportedly among those missing.

Many are pilgrims who had travelled to Tibet to visit Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, sites of major religious significance.

Indian Hindu pilgrims make up a significant proportion of those still unaccounted for.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday that 320 Indian nationals were missing, while other Indian citizens had been successfully evacuated from affected areas.

In Gyirong County, 260 of the 558 people reported missing were foreign nationals, according to the figures provided.

Glacier collapse unleashed a devastating torrent

The disaster began with the collapse of a glacier in the high Himalayas.

Huge quantities of ice and rock plunged downhill, combining with water, mud and other debris as the flow entered river systems below.

The resulting torrent rapidly increased in volume and destructive power as it travelled through narrow valleys.

Entire communities were caught in its path.

Infrastructure along the route was heavily damaged, including power stations, bridges and roads, further complicating the rescue effort.

The extraordinary topography of the Himalayas can make such events particularly destructive because steep gradients allow masses of water, ice and debris to accelerate rapidly before reaching populated valleys.

Barrier lake temporarily stopped rescue teams

Another major concern emerged after debris created a temporary lake.

Authorities feared that the growing body of water could suddenly breach the natural barrier and send another surge downstream.

Those concerns forced rescue teams to suspend operations in some locations.

Emergency supply deliveries were also disrupted after the barrier lake overflowed and prevented trucks carrying essential relief supplies from reaching affected communities.

With the immediate danger easing, teams have begun moving back into some of the affected areas.

More than 90,000 people affected

The humanitarian impact extends far beyond the confirmed casualties.

The Red Cross estimates that more than 90,000 people have been affected by the disaster.

Many communities face disruption to electricity, transport and basic services, while damage to roads and bridges has left some settlements isolated.

Delivering food, drinking water, medical supplies and emergency equipment remains particularly challenging because of the mountainous terrain and damaged transport network.

Race against time for survivors

The priority is now finding survivors among the more than 1,000 people still missing.

As more areas become accessible, authorities are expected to obtain a clearer picture of the true scale of the disaster.

The high number of missing people, including hundreds of foreign tourists and pilgrims, means the death toll could still change significantly.

For families waiting for information and rescue crews working through devastated Himalayan valleys, the coming hours and days will be critical.