Avalanche on Broad Peak kills 4 climbers, 6 others missing
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- Avalanche on Broad Peak leaves 10 climbers missing.
- Four bodies recovered by Pakistani search teams.
- Nirmal Purja among those missing.
- Helicopter search and rescue operations continue.
Pakistani search and rescue crews located the bodies of four mountaineers on Friday following a suspected avalanche on Broad Peak that left at least 10 climbers missing, according to Pakistani officials and sources speaking to Reuters.
The avalanche struck around midday Thursday on the 8,051-meter (26,414-foot) mountain—the world's 12th-highest peak—located in Pakistan's northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Record-holding mountaineer Nirmal Purja among missing
Among the missing is 43-year-old Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, confirmed the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP).
Purja gained international prominence for completing the fastest ascent of all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks, a feat later chronicled in a Netflix documentary.
The international expedition comprised Purja alongside nine other climbers and Sherpa guides from Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, the United States, and China.
Chhang Dawa Sherpa, a board director at Seven Summit Treks, told Reuters that three Sherpa guides from the agency were among those unaccounted for.
Chhang noted that GPS tracking indicated the team was at an elevation of 6,600 meters (21,653 feet) when the avalanche hit, after which the signal fell sharply.
Helicopters deployed to difficult terrain
Search and rescue operations remained active on Friday, with Sajid Hussain, deputy director of the regional tourism department, stating that efforts are concentrating on a "remote and difficult area."
Two Pakistan Army Aviation rescue helicopters have been dispatched to assist in locating the missing team.
Pakistani security sources confirmed that the four located bodies have not yet been recovered from the site, and their identities have not been formally released.
"We remain hopeful for the safe recovery of the missing climbers," the ACP stated, noting that the entire expedition has been out of communication since the strike.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters on Friday that Chinese authorities were urgently verifying details regarding their nationals and stood ready to provide assistance based on requests from the Pakistani government.
