Nirmal Purja, 9 Others Feared Missing After Avalanche on Broad Peak
A ten-member international mountaineering team led by renowned Nepal-born former Royal Marine Nirmal Purja is feared missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan's Karakoram range, officials said Thursday.
Pakistani mountaineering officials said the avalanche hit at around midday on the 8,047-metre (26,400 ft) peak. There has been no subsequent communication with the team. The climbers include an American, a Chinese national, an Omani and five Nepalis, according to officials.
Purja, the expedition leader, is widely known for climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre-plus mountains in just over six months in 2019, a record-breaking feat that brought him global recognition. He joined the British Army in 2003 and became a Royal Marine in 2009. His climbing career began in 2012 when he walked to Everest base camp and, instead of returning as planned, decided to climb the mountain.
Karrar Haidri, vice-president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, said rescue efforts are being coordinated. "We are coordinating with the authorities and trying to arrange a helicopter rescue on Friday morning Pakistani time depending on weather condition," he told the BBC.
In a separate statement, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said it had been "in constant contact" with authorities to ensure that "all available resources are mobilised at the earliest opportunity." The club added: "The Club prays for the safety and successful rescue of all the climbers and stands in solidarity with their families and the international mountaineering community during this difficult time."
Broad Peak, ranked as the world's 12th highest peak, is regarded as one of the more challenging mountains for expeditions due to its technical difficulty and unpredictable weather. The region has seen several accidents in the past, but no further details about the team's condition have been confirmed.
Authorities have not released the names of the other climbers pending family notifications. The incident highlights the inherent risks faced by mountaineers in the high-altitude Karakoram range, where rescue operations are often hampered by harsh weather and difficult terrain.
