BREAKING: It happened at noon today, local time, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan. Developing story
BREAKING NEWS | Avalanche on Broad Peak: Group of ten climbers missing; among them reportedly Nirmal Purja
A massive avalanche struck Broad Peak (8,051 m) in the Karakoram Range, Pakistan, on Thursday, leaving a group of ten climbers missing and triggering a major international search and rescue operation.
According to information released by the Alpine Club of Pakistan, contact with the expedition was lost shortly after the avalanche. Among the missing is renowned Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal «Nimsdai» Purja, one of the most influential figures in contemporary Himalayan mountaineering and the subject of the documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.
Initial reports indicate that the team consisted of climbers from various countries, including Nepal, Pakistan, the United States, China, and Oman. However, authorities have not yet released an official and definitive list of all those involved.
Rescue teams are working to reach the accident site, although weather conditions and the high risk of further avalanches are seriously complicating operations. Helicopters remain on standby, awaiting a window of good weather that will allow them to fly over the area.
So far, there are no official confirmations of fatalities. Authorities are maintaining the ten climbers as missing while the search continues.
Broad Peak, at 8,051 meters (2,200 feet), is the twelfth highest mountain in the world and is part of the Karakoram range, very close to K2. Although it is often considered one of the most technically accessible of the eight-thousanders, its slopes are particularly vulnerable to avalanches and sudden weather changes, factors that pose a serious risk to expeditions each season.
Alpinismonline will continue to provide updates as Pakistani authorities and expedition leaders release new official information.
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