Nepal quake toll reaches 5,496

The death toll in Nepal's earthquake reached 5,496 on Thursday, police said.

Another 10,400 injured people were being treated in various hospitals across the nation, the police headquarters said.

Nepal's central region accounts for 3,548 deaths followed by Kathmandu Valley where 1,521 have died.

Officials say the number of dead is expected to rise as rescue teams are still searching for possible survivors and bodies in several remote quake-hit sites.

Hundreds have gone missing. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has warned that the fatalities in the Saturday quake could be as high as 10,000.