Nepal will need at least a few billion dollars to recover from devastating flash floods and is seeking international funding for reconstruction, Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle said. At least 469 people have been confirmed dead, a toll expected to rise, after surges of rock, mud and water tore through a Nepalese valley near the Chinese border, destroying bridges, roads and entire settlements. More than 1,500 people remain missing across Nepal and China, including visitors from India, Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The disaster hit a mountain region that had been expanding trade routes, hydropower and tourism. International partners including China, India, the European Union, the United States and humanitarian agencies had already begun delivering cash, relief supplies and emergency medical support as scientists continue to examine monsoon, climate and glacial factors behind the flooding.