Nepal’s flood death toll has risen to 552, police confirmed on Friday afternoon. The earlier figure released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority was 538. The disaster struck after severe mud and ice landslides in northern Rasuwa and neighboring districts on Wednesday morning, triggering sudden flooding in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers.

The total includes people killed in Rasuwa district and bodies recovered in low-lying districts after victims were swept away by the Bhotekoshi River’s current. Floodwaters rapidly washed away homes, bridges, roads and other infrastructure, leaving wide areas and many travelers completely cut off from the rest of the country.

Authorities said the death toll is not final as rescue and search operations continue and information from different districts is still being coordinated. Hundreds of people remain missing. Nepal Police said 4,473 personnel are working on disaster response and rescue efforts.