Rescue helicopters deployed as search begins for renowned mountaineer and international team on world’s 12th-highest mountain.
At least 10 mountaineers, including the world-renowned Nepali climber Nirmal “Nims” Purja, are feared missing after an avalanche struck their expedition on Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram range, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan and climbing operators.
The avalanche hit around midday on Thursday at approximately 6,600 metres (21,650 feet) as the team was moving between camps on the 8,047-metre (26,414-foot) mountain, the world’s 12th-highest peak. There has been no communication with the climbers since the incident. Tracking data from some devices reportedly showed a rapid and substantial descent consistent with being swept away by the slide.
International Team Led by Nims Purja on Broad Peak Expedition:
Purja, 43, a Nepal-born former British Royal Marines and Special Boat Service member, was leading the group. He rose to global fame in 2019 by climbing all 14 of the world’s peaks above 8,000 metres in just six months and six days-a record at the time that was later documented in the Netflix film 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible. He has completed dozens of successful ascents of the highest mountains and was among the first team to summit K2 in winter in 2021.
The expedition included climbers from multiple countries. Officials identified members as five or six Nepali mountaineers (including Purja and several Sherpa guides), Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi from Hunza, Omani climber Nadhira (or Nathira) Al Harthy, American climber Mallory Geis, a Chinese climber identified as Wang, and one other foreign climber. Some reports named additional Nepali guides such as Pur Bahadur Gurung, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa.
Broad Peak, located near the more famous K2, is regarded as one of the more technically demanding 8,000-metre peaks in Pakistan and attracts experienced international teams during the summer climbing season.
Broad Peak Avalanche Triggers Urgent Rescue Mission:
The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) said it received “deeply concerning reports” of the avalanche and confirmed that the entire team had been out of contact. Two Pakistan Army Aviation rescue helicopters carrying specialised personnel and equipment were dispatched on Friday as weather conditions allowed. Ground search teams also began operations near base camp.
ACP officials stated they were coordinating with government authorities to mobilise all available resources. “We remain hopeful for the safe recovery of the missing climbers,” the club said in a statement, while expressing solidarity with the families and the international mountaineering community.
Some early reports on Friday indicated that search teams had located bodies lower on the mountain, with two individuals-Omani climber Nadhira Al Harthy and Nepali climber Pur Bahadur Gurung-identified among those recovered.
Avalanches remain one of the greatest hazards on the high peaks of the Karakoram and Himalaya, particularly during periods of unstable snow conditions. Broad Peak’s steep slopes and complex terrain have claimed lives in previous seasons. Climbers rely on careful route assessment, weather windows and rapid communication, yet even experienced teams can be caught without warning.
Purja’s Elite Exped company and other operators in the region have extensive experience guiding clients on the Pakistani 8,000 meters. The delay in raising the alarm-reports suggest base camp staff only became fully aware hours after the event-has been noted by some observers monitoring the situation.
As rescue efforts intensified on Friday, the mountaineering world waited for further updates on the fate of one of the most celebrated high-altitude climbers of his generation and the international team that accompanied him.