10 Climbers Go Missing on Pakistani Peak

Broad Peak

The bodies of four climbers have reportedly been located by Pakistani search crews after at least 10 mountaineers went missing in a suspected avalanche on Broad Peak a ⁠day earlier, officials said.

Among those missing is Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, also known as Nims Dai, who holds the record for the fastest ascent of the world’s 14 highest mountain.

Nirmal Purja

Efforts were underway to retrieve the bodies of the four climbers despite the harsh weather on Friday, the Associated Press and Reuters news agencies reported, citing Pakistani sources.

While those bodies were not initially identified, the Alpine Club of Pakistan announced later on Friday that Omani mountaineer Nadhira Al Harthy was among those killed.

Broad Peak is the 12th-highest mountain in the world.

The 10 climbers, led by Purja, went missing after an avalanche in northern Pakistan where they were on a climbing expedition, the ACP said late on Thursday.

“The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) has received deeply concerning reports of an avalanche that struck a team of climbers on Broad Peak (8,047m) in the Karakoram mountain range,” the club said in a statement.

ACP said the expedition comprised 10 people – including five Nepalese, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi from Hunza, American climber Mallory Geis, and a climber from China identified only as Wang, as well as Harthy. Police did not mention a US citizen but said two British nationals – a man and a woman – were in the missing team.

“The entire team has reportedly been out of communication since the avalanche,” the club said.

“Every possible effort is being made to ensure that helicopter support and all available rescue resources are mobilised at the earliest opportunity, subject to weather and operational conditions,” it added.

- AP and Reuters