UPDATE: Sunday, April 26: 9:33 a.m. MST -The official number of dead from Saturday's Himalayan earthquake has topped 2,500 and may continue to rise as remote areas near the epicenter are searched.

Nepal authorities said Sunday that at least 2,430 people in that country had died in Nepal alone, not including the 18 people that the Nepal Mountaineering Association says died in an earthquake-triggered avalanche on Mount Everest. Another 61 people died from the quake in India and a few in other neighboring countries.

With search and rescue efforts far from over, it was unclear how much the death toll would rise.

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UPDATE: Sunday, April 26: 4:50 a.m. MST -A German rescue organization and the French government say they are sending rescue and relief teams to earthquake-torn Nepal.

International Search and Rescue Germany says a team of 52 relief workers including doctors, experts trained in searching for people buried under rubble and several dog squads will fly to Nepal Sunday. The team will bring with them a mobile medical treatment center.

Spokesman Stefan Heine said the priority was to get to the scene of the quake as quickly as possible to find those still alive.

In France, the government said in a statement Sunday it is sending 11 rescuers and emergency equipment to Kathmandu Sunday.

The contingents will join aid efforts from several other countries.

The French Foreign Ministry has located 500 French citizens in the area who are alive and well.

Saturday's quake left thousands dead and injured.

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UPDATE: Sunday, April 26: 4:29 a.m. MST -Pope Francis has led prayers in St. Peter's Square for the dead and displaced from the massive earthquake in Nepal and surrounding areas.

Francis called for assistance for the survivors during his weekly Sunday blessing. He said he was praying for the victims, the injured and "all those who are suffering from this calamity," and asked that they have the "support and fraternal solidarity" they need.

On Saturday, the Vatican secretary of state sent a formal telegram of condolences seeking to encourage rescue crews and comfort the survivors.

Saturday's magnitude 7.8 earthquake left at least 1,900 people dead, spreading horror from Kathmandu to small villages and to the slopes of Mount Everest, triggering an avalanche that buried part of the base camp packed with foreign climbers.

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UPDATE: Sunday, April 26: 4:21 a.m. MST - A German rescue organization and the French government say they are sending rescue and relief teams to earthquake-torn Nepal.

International Search and Rescue Germany says a team of 52 relief workers including doctors, experts trained in searching for people buried under rubble and several dog squads will fly to Nepal Sunday. The team will bring with them a mobile medical treatment center.

Spokesman Stefan Heine said the priority was to get to the scene of the quake as quickly as possible to find those still alive.

In France, the government said in a statement Sunday it is sending 11 rescuers and emergency equipment to Kathmandu Sunday.

The French Foreign Ministry has located 500 French citizens in the area who are alive and well.

Saturday's quake left at least 1,900 dead.

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