Additional Coverage:
Search Underway for Missing Climbers After Avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD – An urgent rescue operation is underway after an avalanche struck a team of ten international climbers on Broad Peak, one of the world’s highest mountains, located in northern Pakistan’s Karakoram range.
The expedition was led by Nirmal Purja, a renowned Nepal-born British mountaineer famous for his record-setting ascent of the world’s 14 tallest peaks in just 189 days in 2019. The team has been out of contact since the avalanche, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
The group includes five climbers from Nepal, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi from Hunza, Omani climber Nathira, American climber Mallory Geis, a Chinese climber named Wang, and another international team member. The Alpine Club’s Vice President, Karrar Haidri, confirmed the incident and the ongoing efforts to locate the missing climbers.
Maj. Gen. Irfan Arshad, president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, is coordinating with government agencies to mobilize helicopters and other resources for a swift search-and-rescue mission, though weather and operational challenges remain a concern.
Broad Peak, standing at 26,401 feet, ranks as the world’s 12th-highest mountain and attracts climbers worldwide to Pakistan’s towering peaks. The Alpine Club emphasized its commitment to supporting the families of those missing and working closely with international mountaineering communities during this critical time.