All 10 climbers who were swept away by an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak have now been confirmed dead, bringing a tragic end to an international search effort in one of the world’s most dangerous mountaineering regions.
According to the Associated Press, renowned British Nepali climber Nirmal Purja was among those killed when the avalanche struck the 10 member expedition on Thursday. Elite Exped, the company leading the expedition, confirmed Saturday that there were no survivors.
Rescue teams continued working to recover the climbers despite severe weather that complicated helicopter operations in the Karakoram range.
Recovery Operations Continue
Rescuers located four bodies on Friday and successfully recovered three before deteriorating weather forced delays. Military helicopters resumed search and recovery operations on Saturday as teams worked to locate the remaining victims.
Officials identified several of the climbers whose remains have already been recovered. Omani climber Nathira Ahmed was being transported to Islamabad while the bodies of American climber Mallory Geis and Nepalese climber Bahadur Gurung remained in Skardu.
Chinese state media also reported that a Chinese mountaineer was among those killed in the avalanche.
Mountaineering Community Mourns Nirmal Purja
Purja, widely known as Nims Dai, was one of the most recognizable figures in modern mountaineering. The Nepal born former British Army soldier became internationally famous after climbing all 14 of the world’s 8000 meter peaks in just 189 days during 2019. The achievement was documented in the Netflix film 14 Peaks Nothing Is Impossible before the record was surpassed in 2023.
Geis’ family remembered the American climber as “a bright light who was loved deeply by her family and friends.”
Risks Remain High On Pakistan’s Greatest Peaks
The president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Irfan Arshad Khan, called the deaths an immeasurable loss for the global climbing community while praising the military personnel, civilian rescuers and sherpas who participated in the search.
Broad Peak stands among Pakistan’s highest mountains and attracts experienced climbers from around the world. However, expeditions in the Karakoram are frequently threatened by avalanches, falling ice, rockfall, extreme altitude and rapidly changing weather. The tragedy serves as another reminder that even the world’s most accomplished mountaineers face significant dangers in high altitude environments.
