Nepal is facing an "unimaginable and heartbreaking" disaster with authorities struggling to assess the full scale of devastating floods that have killed hundreds, Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said.
The huge wave of ice, rocks and debris that smashed into villages and towns on Wednesday has claimed over 900 lives in both Nepal and Tibet and across the border in China.
The latest number of those unaccounted for is also climbing, with unidentified bodies buried in mass graves after DNA sampling.
Rescuers struggled on Monday through mud and debris for a sixth day, as the number of missing people soared to nearly 5,000.
"Our country has been facing an unimaginable and heartbreaking natural disaster," Shah said in a social media post late on Sunday.
"The devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa have made it extremely difficult to collect a complete account of the loss of life, property, and infrastructure," he added.
"Although this task remains challenging due to adverse weather, difficult terrain, and ongoing risks, we are moving forward with determination to protect the lives of the citizens."
Shah, a 36-year-old rapper-turned-politician widely known as "Balen", faces the enormous task of rebuilding communities and critical infrastructure.
Nepal's economy is already under pressure, with limited resources to respond to a disaster of this scale.
The disaster came ahead of the anniversary of last year's September 8-9 mass anti-corruption protests that toppled the previous government.
Shah's party swept elections in March on a wave of euphoria calling for change.
"We will succeed in overcoming this crisis through our unity and collective efforts," he said of the floods.
