ISLAMABAD: Search-and-rescue operations resumed on Saturday for a 10-member international climbing expedition caught in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, as rescuers recovered four bodies and continued searching for the remaining six climbers, officials said.
“Rescue efforts on Broad Peak remain underway as authorities continue the search for climbers reported missing following the avalanche,” a Gilgit-Baltistan official told WE News.
“Four bodies have so far been recovered and airlifted to Skardu,” the official said.
The operation, involving Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters and ground rescue teams, resumed early Saturday after being suspended overnight because of hazardous weather and terrain on the 8,047-metre peak in the Karakoram range.
A senior government official told WE News English that drone reconnaissance had spotted several more bodies near the avalanche site, but recovery efforts remained difficult because of unstable snow conditions and the risk of further avalanches.
“According to the latest official update, some climbers have been located through drone surveillance; however, their identities and condition have not yet been confirmed,” the official added.
Victims Identified
Authorities have confirmed the deaths of Omani climber Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, American climber Sarah Mallory and Nepal’s Pur Bahadur Gurung.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) said the recovery team retrieved the bodies of Al Harthy and Gurung, while only partial remains of Sarah Mallory could be recovered.
Al Harthy was widely recognised as the first Omani woman to summit K2 in 2022.
Search Continues for Missing Climbers
The search continues for six missing climbers, including renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal “Nims” Purja and Pakistani climber Suhail Shahzad.
The remaining missing climbers are Nawang Thindhu Sherpa (Nepal), Gyalu Sherpa (Nepal), Nima Sherpa (Nepal), Kili Pemba (Nepal) and Wang Zhong (China).
The expedition also included Sarah Mallory Geis (United States), Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy (Oman), Pur Bahadur Gurung (Nepal), Nirmal Purja (United Kingdom) and Suhail Shahzad (Pakistan).
Avalanche During Summit Push
The avalanche struck Broad Peak around midday on Thursday as the climbers were ascending towards Camp III during a summit push led by Purja.
According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, GPS data indicated the climbers were swept nearly one kilometre down the mountain and are believed to have been buried beneath snow and ice.
ACP General Secretary Ayaz Shigri said the team had left for its summit attempt on Wednesday before the avalanche struck.
International Rescue Effort
The rescue mission is being led by veteran Nepali mountaineer Mingma G in coordination with the governments of Pakistan and Nepal, the Gilgit-Baltistan administration, the Pakistan Army and the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters have been transporting recovered victims and supporting aerial reconnaissance, while ground teams continue searching the avalanche debris.
The ACP said it remained in close coordination with government authorities and rescue agencies.
“The club prays for the safety and successful rescue of all the climbers and stands in solidarity with their families and the international mountaineering community during this difficult time,” the organisation said in a statement.
K2 Expeditions Suspend Climbs
In support of the rescue mission, expedition teams on nearby K2 have voluntarily suspended their climbing activities to allow resources and personnel to focus on the Broad Peak operation.
The avalanche occurred during the busiest period of Pakistan’s summer climbing season, with more than 200 foreign climbers attempting ascents of K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrum peaks.
Pakistan’s Karakoram range is home to five of the world’s 14 mountains above 8,000 metres and attracts hundreds of climbers each year, although extreme weather, avalanches and high-altitude conditions continue to pose significant risks.
