Four bodies have been recovered after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range, while search and rescue operations are underway to locate several missing climbers, including renowned Nepal-born mountaineer Nirmal Purja.
The avalanche hit the 8,047-metre-high peak around midday on Thursday. Broad Peak is the world’s 12th highest mountain and is located near K2 in northern Pakistan.
According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Purja, popularly known as Nims Dai, was leading a 10-member international climbing team when the avalanche occurred. The team included five Nepali climbers, one Pakistani climber, one American, one Chinese national, one Omani climber and another foreign mountaineer.
The identities of the four recovered bodies have not yet been officially confirmed.
The climbers reported missing include Nirmal Purja, Pur Bahadur Gurung, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa and Nawang Thindu Sherpa from Nepal, Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, Chinese climber Wang Zhong, American climber Mallory Geis and Omani climber Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said it has been in constant contact with authorities and is coordinating efforts to ensure all available resources are mobilised for the rescue mission. It added that the entire team has remained out of communication since the avalanche.
Search and rescue operations are continuing, with weather conditions expected to determine the availability of helicopter support in the mountainous region.
Nirmal Purja gained worldwide recognition in 2019 after completing his historic “Project Possible,” scaling all 14 of the world’s peaks above 8,000 metres in just over six months, setting a new world record.
