Australia's Nepali community is doing what it does best in a crisis: planning vigils, lighting candles, and setting up GoFundMe pages, all while desperately refreshing news feeds for word of missing loved ones. The death toll from the catastrophic flash floods and landslides that tore through Nepal's Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river basins on Thursday has climbed to 469, with over 1,300 people still unaccounted for, according to Nepal police on Friday.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong confirmed that the number of Australians missing in the floods has risen to 39, and unveiled a $5 million support package. For those feeling generous (or just helpless), she pointed donors to the Emergency Action Alliance website, a coalition of Australian charities and humanitarian organizations. Because nothing says 'we care' like a government-sanctioned donation portal.

The Nepali diaspora in Australia has already held candlelight prayers and a minute's silence. Dr Tilak Pokhrel, president of the Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre (ANMC), announced that community groups in Victoria will host a vigil to coincide with Nepal's upcoming national day of mourning. 'Community members just want to say we are with you for those who are affected,' he said, adding that the centre will extend its hours so faith leaders can offer support. 'People are waiting for the news. They are checking the news every hour.'

Chudamani Sapkota, general secretary of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, said its New South Wales branch will hold a candlelight vigil in Sydney on Saturday evening. 'This is devastating news for all the Nepalese diaspora,' he said, lamenting the lack of communication networks in the affected areas. 'There's no network, nothing at the moment. This is a very tough time.'

Tenzin Khangsar, co-chair of the Australia Tibet Council, expressed shock and devastation, with prayer events planned to honor the victims. In a truly modern twist, diaspora groups are also crowdfunding for the Nepali government's disaster relief fund. Chiran Tiwari, president of the Nepalese Welfare Society in Sydney, has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the Nepali Prime Minister's Natural Disaster Relief Fund. One of the society's executive members has relatives missing in Nepal, and the community is rallying around them. 'The situation is very sad for the community,' Tiwari said. 'Everyone's eyes is tearing so the situation is very difficult.'

For those in Melbourne, the ANMC hosted a multi-faith candlelight prayer night on Thursday, because when the world falls apart, shared grief and a few candles are about all we've got.