Rescue teams, backed by Pakistan Army helicopters, are racing to locate the missing international climbing team after a powerful avalanche struck Broad Peak in the Karakoram.
ISLAMABAD: An international mountaineering expedition led by renowned Nepali-born climber Nirmal “Nims” Purja has gone missing after a massive avalanche struck Broad Peak, one of Pakistan’s highest mountains, triggering an urgent multinational search and rescue operation.
The avalanche occurred near the 8,047-metre summit of Broad Peak in the Karakoram range, severing all communication with the 10-member team. The missing climbers include five Nepalese high-altitude guides, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, Omani climber Nadhira Al Harthy, American climber Mallory Geis, Chinese climber Wang Zhong, and another foreign national.
Rescue efforts began as weather conditions allowed, with Pakistan Army helicopters deployed to support ground rescue teams navigating the mountain’s challenging terrain. Additional climbers from nearby expeditions have also joined the operation in hopes of locating the missing group.
Authorities said initial tracking data from Purja’s locator device indicated downhill movement after the avalanche, providing cautious optimism that some members of the expedition may have survived the incident. However, officials have not confirmed the team’s condition, and search operations remain ongoing.
Purja, widely regarded as one of the world’s most accomplished mountaineers, was attempting to make history by becoming the first climber to summit all 14 of the world’s mountains above 8,000 metres twice without using supplemental oxygen. His expedition had drawn international attention for its extraordinary level of difficulty and ambition.
Broad Peak, located near K2 in the Karakoram mountain range, is considered one of the world’s most demanding climbs. Avalanches, rapidly changing weather, and extreme altitude continue to pose significant risks, even for the most experienced mountaineers.
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