All ten climbers killed in Broad Peak avalanche confirmed dead
Renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja and nine other climbers were swept away by an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan and have been confirmed dead, with rescue teams continuing recovery efforts.
Ten climbers, including British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, were swept away by an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan on Thursday and have now been confirmed dead, officials said Saturday. Rescue teams, supported by military helicopters, have recovered four bodies and continue to search for the remaining victims despite harsh weather that has limited helicopter flights.
"The loss of these courageous climbers, who came from different nations united by their passion for the mountains, is an immeasurable loss to the global mountaineering fraternity," said Irfan Arshad Khan, president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
Local police reported that the remains of Omani climber Nathira Ahmed were being flown to Islamabad, while the bodies of American climber Mallory Geis and Nepalese climber Bahadur Gurung remain at a hospital in Skardu. Chinese authorities confirmed a Chinese mountaineer is also missing.
Purja, a former British Army soldier known for climbing all 14 eight-thousand-meter peaks in 2019, led the expedition. His company described him as a leader who inspired many through his courage and humility.
The incident highlights the frequent hazards of high-altitude climbing in northern Pakistan, where avalanches, falling ice, rock, and rapidly changing weather pose significant risks.