Nepal-Tibet flood disaster wrap: Fears grow as number of missing Aussies climbs to 41, death toll hits 626

The number of Australians unaccounted for in Nepal has risen to 41 as rescuers battle treacherous conditions and dangerous terrain left in the catastrophic floods’ path of destruction.

The latest figure is up from 39 Australians reported missing on Friday. It does not include Australian woman, Cara Severino, who made contact with her parents, Debbie and Frank on Friday after fears for her safety grew.

Those Australians form the total number of people who are missing across Nepal and Tibet, which surged to 2,478 on Saturday morning local time.

The devastating disaster has so far claimed the lives of at least 626 people, an increase from a earlier reports saying the death toll was at 579.

Chinese state media reports 554 nationals are still missing in Tibet and seven have been found dead. It in so clear whether the figures from Tibet overlap with the numbers being recorded in Nepal.

A Brisbane father and member of the Royal Australian Air Force is the latest Australian who has been identified as missing in Nepal after floods tore through the region.

Karan Bhardwaj, 40, was travelling with Kailash Journey’s tour group when the disaster hit on Wednesday morning.

His family said Mr Bhardwaj is “an Australian, a proud member of the Australian Defence Force, and a beloved father of one, brother, uncle, brother-in-law and friend to many”.

They described the agony they are experiencing as they are “desperately waiting for news and praying” for his safe return.

The family said they had not heard from Mr Bhardwaj or his two friends, Arpan Mithalal Kothari and Bhavin Raval, since the catastophe struck.

“We are praying with everything we have that Karan and his friends are safe and that they will be brought home.”

Cara Severino’s safe contact has offered a glimmer of hope amid a dark time in Nepal, with Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite saying he hopes it is a sign of more miracles to come.

“That’s why we’ve sent our experts that are trained in these situations around hopefully, recovery to go to the region.

But Mr Thistlethwaite stressed the dangerous terrain is proving “difficult” for rescue operations.