Ten climbers, led by renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, have gone missing after an avalanche in northern Pakistan, the Alpine Club of Pakistan has reported.
According to media reports, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) received information that a team of 10 climbers went missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak (8,047 metres) in the Karakoram mountain range.
The club said the expedition was being led by Nirmal Purja, and no contact has been established with him since the incident.
The ACP said the expedition included 10 members: five Nepali climbers, one Pakistani, one Omani, one Chinese, one American, and one other foreign climber whose nationality has not been disclosed.
According to the ACP, the expedition comprised of Purja, Pur Bahadur Gurung, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa — Sakhi from Pakistan, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy from Oman, Wang Zhong from China, and American climber Mallory Geis.
The club added that the entire team has reportedly been out of contact since the avalanche. Every possible effort is being made to deploy helicopters and all available rescue resources to the site as quickly as weather and operational conditions allow.
It is pertinent to mention that Broad Peak, standing at 8,047 meters above sea level, is the world’s 12th-highest mountain. Located in the Karakoram mountain range near K2, it is regarded as one of the most challenging peaks for mountaineers from around the world.
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