Search and rescue teams in Pakistan have entered a second day of operations following a deadly avalanche that struck an expedition on Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain, located along the Pakistan-China border.
Seven members of the 10-person climbing team remain unaccounted for, including renowned Nepal-born mountaineer Nirmal Purja.
The rescue effort has intensified, with experienced Pakistani climbers volunteering alongside Nepali climbers who have suspended their own expeditions on nearby K2 to assist in the operation.
Adverse weather conditions continue to hinder rescue efforts. Pakistani authorities have confirmed that the bodies of three climbers have been recovered.
The deceased have been identified as American climber Mallory Geis, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy of Oman, and Pur Bahadur Gurung of Nepal.
On Friday, the Alpine Club of Pakistan reported that drones had detected several climbers on the mountain, although their condition could not be determined.
The club’s secretary-general, Ayaz Shigri, told the BBC that rescuers remain concerned about the possibility of additional avalanches, which continues to pose a major risk to the ongoing operation.
Military helicopters have been placed on standby and will be deployed once weather conditions improve.
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The search mission began after reports emerged on Thursday of an avalanche on the 8,047-metre (26,400ft) Broad Peak in the Karakoram mountain range.
The multinational expedition was being led by Purja, who gained global recognition after climbing all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks in just over six months in 2019.
Purja joined the British Army in 2003 before becoming a member of the Royal Navy’s elite Special Boat Service in 2009.
He reached his first mountain summit in 2012 after climbing the 6,119-metre Lobuche East in Nepal.
In June, Mallory Geis shared on social media that she was preparing for “her first big kid climbing expedition in Pakistan”.
Pur Bahadur Gurung, also known as Yukta, was certified by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations and was nearing completion of the prestigious challenge of climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres.
Also among the missing is Kili Pemba Sherpa Kili, who has successfully summited Mount Everest 15 times. In 2021, he participated in the historic first winter ascent of K2 alongside several Nepali climbers, including Purja.
Broad Peak is widely regarded as one of the world’s most technically demanding mountains. The first successful ascent was achieved in 1957 by an Austrian expedition.
Although many climbers have since reached its summit, the mountain has claimed dozens of lives over the years.
One of its deadliest seasons came in 2013, when at least six climbers lost their lives.
Reuters
