Four bodies recovered as rescue continues for ten climbers missing on Broad Peak
Rescuers in Pakistan have found four of the ten climbers missing after an avalanche on Broad Peak, while adverse weather hampers further search efforts.
Rescuers searching for ten climbers who vanished after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan have recovered four bodies, officials said on Friday. The search for the remaining six climbers continues despite bad weather that has limited helicopter operations.
Senior government officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed that recovery teams are working to retrieve the bodies, though they did not specify the identities of those found. Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain also noted that the weather remains a challenge for the rescue effort.
The expedition, organized by the Alpine Club of Pakistan, included five Nepali climbers, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, Omani climber Nathira, American Mallory Geis, a Chinese climber identified only as Wang, and another foreign participant. The group lost contact with its base camp after the avalanche on Thursday, according to club vice-president Karrar Haidri, who said army helicopters were deployed for the search.
China’s foreign ministry said it is working to confirm whether any Chinese citizens were among the missing, and expressed willingness to assist Pakistan as needed.
The expedition was led by Nirmal Purja, a Nepal-born former British army soldier known for his rapid ascents of the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter peaks. The team was organized by Moving Mountains, a Pakistani travel company, which had announced the climb earlier in the month.
Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain at 8,047 metres (26,401 ft), is part of the Karakoram range that hosts several of the world’s highest peaks. Avalanches and sudden weather changes frequently pose risks to climbers in the region.