AUTHORITIES in Pakistan have confirmed that more bodies have now been located following a devastating avalanche on Broad Peak in the country’s Karakoram range.
Rescue teams are also reporting there are no survivors.
The avalanche struck an 11‑member multinational expedition on Thursday, sweeping climbers down the mountain at high altitude. Among the missing is renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja, known globally for his record‑breaking ascents and the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.
The expedition, led by former British Army special forces operative Purja, included climbers from Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, the United States, and China. Three of the bodies, which have now been recovered, have been identified as Pur Bahadur Gurung of Nepal, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy of Oman and Mallory Geis of the United States. A fourth has not yet been confirmed.
The avalanche struck at around midday local time, reportedly sweeping the team down approximately 1,000 metres from a position near 7,000m on the mountain’s upper slopes.
Search and rescue operations are being led by the Pakistan Army, with helicopters and ground teams deployed despite severe weather, unstable snowpack, and dangerous terrain. Officials say GPS signals from some climbers indicate they were carried down by the force of the avalanche.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan is coordinating with Nepalese and Chinese authorities, and drones have been deployed to scan the area where helicopter access is limited.
The full expedition party comprised 11 climbers. Seven Nepali mountaineers – Nirmal Purja, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa, Pur Bahadur Gurung, and a seventh Nepali climber whose name has not yet been formally released – along with Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, Chinese climber Wang Zhong, Omani climber Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, and American climber Mallory Geis. Three of the mountaineers have been recovered, a fourth has been located but not yet identified, and the remaining members of the team are still missing.
Standing at 8,047 metres, Broad Peak is considered one of the most technically demanding climbs in the Karakoram. Located close to K2, the mountain is notorious for unstable weather systems and avalanche‑prone slopes. It is the 12-highest peak in the world.
Breaking updates…
This is a live, developing story. Everwild Outdoors will continue to update this article as authorities release further information and rescue teams progress in their search for the remaining climbers. Latest news at the bottom of the feed.
UPDATE (1.42pm UK): Authorities have so far identified two of the four climbers whose bodies have been located, but not recovered due to conditions… Omani mountaineer Nadhira Al Harthy and Nepali climber Pur Bahadur Gurung. Recovery efforts remain stalled due to severe weather and unstable terrain, and the search continues for the remaining six missing climbers, including renowned mountaineer Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja.
UPDATE (1.50pm UK): The last of the specialist rescue teams return as search is called off due to weather conditions and loss of daylight. Officials say they hope to resume at first light.
UPDATE (3pm UK): Two key quotes as darkness now shrouds the Karakoram…
“The Pakistan government has assured Nepal that all available resources are being mobilised to locate the missing climbers.” – Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“Purja’s GPS tracker has shown continued movement, though he remains missing.” – Mingma Gyabu Sherpa (Elite Exped)
UPDATE (4.05pm UK): It’ll be another eight hours at least before sunrise on Broad Peak. It’s going to be a long night for rescue teams and any survivors, if indeed anyone survived the devastating avalanche.
UPDATE (10.10pm UK): Authorities have now confirmed the identities of three climbers recovered from the Broad Peak avalanche: Pur Bahadur Gurung of Nepal, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy of Oman, and Mallory Geis of the United States. A fourth body has been located but not yet formally identified.
It is now understood seven climbers remain missing rather than six from earlier reports. These include renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, along with Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa, Sohail Sakhi of Pakistan, and Wang Zhong of China. Search operations, led by the Pakistan Army, were suspended overnight due to severe weather and hazardous terrain, and are expected to resume at first light.
UPDATE (12.40am UK): As first light returns to Broad Peak, Pakistani authorities have not yet confirmed the resumption of aerial or ground search operations, as high winds continue to impact helicopter and drone flights. Severe overnight weather continues to limit deployment, and no new sightings or recoveries have been reported. The seven missing climbers – including Nirmal Purja – remain unaccounted for as teams await conditions stable enough to relaunch the search.
UPDATE (9am UK): Search efforts on Broad Peak have resumed at first light, with Pakistan Army helicopters, drone teams and high‑altitude rescuers returning to the avalanche zone after weather forced an overnight pause. Three climbers have now been formally identified among the recovered bodies – Pur Bahadur Gurung of Nepal, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy of Oman and Mallory Geis of the United States – while a fourth body located by drone has yet to be named. Seven climbers remain missing, including Nirmal Purja and four Nepali teammates, along with Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi and Chinese climber Wang Zhong. Officials warn that unstable terrain and high winds continue to hamper aerial visibility, meaning ground teams may face a prolonged and hazardous search.
UPDATE (9.55am UK): Elite Nepali rescuers Mingma David Sherpa and Mingma Gyalje Sherpa have joined the search effort. They claim that drone footage has revealed the locations of all but one of the missing climbers, though Pakistani authorities have not yet confirmed this assessment.
UPDATE (11.56am UK): Search teams are now reporting they have located further bodies on drone footage in the avalanche debris. However, severe high-altitude conditions continue to hinder helicopter crews and search technicians in recovery efforts.
UPDATE (12.15pm UK): Although awaiting official confirmation from the authorities, several outlets and – more significantly – climbing colleagues of Nirmal Purja have announced the 43-year-old’s death.
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