Families of 41 Australians missing in the chaotic aftermath refuse to let go of hope that their loved ones will be found.
Nava Pandey has been desperately seeking information about his wife Sumi Adhikari's whereabouts since she embarked on an Isha Foundation pilgrimage to the region.
"Every hour matters," he told AAP.
Mr Pandey has flown from Sydney to Kathmandu yet still has no clear or official information about his wife or the other members of her group.
"Based on the CCTV footage that has emerged and their last known location in the Gyirong area, our most urgent request is for an immediate and thorough search operation in that location," he said.
Nepalese authorities confirmed on Saturday 626 bodies had been recovered while more than 2400 people remain missing.
A further 554 people are unaccounted for in Tibet, taking the combined total to almost 3000.
Catastrophic flooding has destroyed kilometres of roads and bridges, leaving rescue workers with no choice but to fly into some of the hardest hit areas by helicopter.
Around 15,000 members of the Nepalese army and police force are conducting search and rescue operations with a group of Australian personnel expected in Kathmandu late Saturday.
Four DFAT Crisis Response Team officers and four Rapid Response Team humanitarian specialists were to join about 20 Australian responders already on the ground.
They will face unpredictable conditions with further flooding likely to complicate rescue efforts.
Nepal's Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle estimates the country will need up to $US5 billion for rebuilding.
"This is just an estimate ... loss and damage is being assessed," he told Bloomberg.
Australian Defence Force member Karan Bhardwaj and Brisbane friends Arpan Mithalal Kothari and Bhavin Raval are also missing.
They were travelling near the Nepal-Tibet border with Kailash Journeys as part of a tour group when the flooding hit.
Mr Bhardwaj has been described as a proud defence force member, beloved father of one, a brother and a friend to many.
"Our family is desperately waiting for news," Jen Nai told AAP.
"We are praying with everything we have that Karan and his friends are safe and will be brought home."
Ms Nai has not been in contact with her brother-in-law since he sent a group photo, while Mr Raval's wife is yet to receive any news about his whereabouts.
Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said DFAT staff in Kathmandu were contacting as many Australians as possible.
"Roads have been blocked, homes have been destroyed, communications infrastructure has been knocked out and power is down, so it's very difficult to get information in and out," he told reporters on Saturday.
Nepal has accepted a $5 million humanitarian aid package from Australia.
NSW Premier Chris Minns called the disaster devastating.
"Literally hundreds of people have lost their lives, potentially thousands. I know there are many who are still missing, including Australians right now," he said.
"Our heart bleeds for them."
NSW mother of two Reshma Patel was also making a pilgrimage with the Isha Foundation when the floods hit.
Her last known location was an immigration office along the Nepal-Tibet border, captured in viral footage.
"She was inside the big building, which you can see in all the videos that had been hit hard by the floods at the border," family friend Chin Valsan told AAP.
While search and rescue operations, aided by Australian officials, are ongoing, charities have banded together nationally to raise funds.
The Australian Red Cross announced all donations to its global emergency fund from Thursday would go to Nepal, while World Vision Australia has launched a dedicated appeal.
UNICEF is appealing for $US17.2 million to fund its emergency relief and recovery efforts, including for the estimated 17,000 children affected.
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