Swarnim Wagle, Nepal's finance minister, said the country may need between $4 billion and $5 billion to rebuild after severe floods this week. He described the figure as an initial estimate, with authorities still assessing the full extent of the damage. The floods were triggered by a glacier collapse that sent rock, ice, mud, and debris across Himalayan river systems. More than 600 people were killed in Nepal and Tibet, and over 2,000 remain missing. Entire towns along the border were leveled, and infrastructure including roads, bridges, and major hydropower stations was severely damaged. The estimated reconstruction cost is nearly 10% of the nation's economy, though less than the $9 billion required after the 2015 earthquake.