Search Continues for Climbers Missing on Broad Peak After Avalanche
Quick Look
- Rescue teams are conducting a second day of search for seven climbers missing after an avalanche on Broad Peak, Pakistan, including renowned climber Nirmal Purja.
- Three bodies have been recovered, and bad weather is hampering efforts, though military helicopters are on standby.
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Why It Matters
An avalanche occurred on Broad Peak, the world's 12th-highest summit, affecting a 10-person expedition, with seven climbers still missing.
Rescue teams in Pakistan are carrying out a second day of search for climbers caught in an avalanche on the world's 12th-highest summit.
Among the seven still missing from the 10-person expedition on Broad Peak, on the border with China, is renowned Nepal-born climber Nirmal Purja.
The operation has expanded with local Pakistani climbers volunteering, together with others from Nepal who have halted their expeditions on nearby K2.
Bad weather has been hampering the search. Pakistani officials say the bodies of three climbers have been recovered.
They have been named as American Mallory Geis, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy from Oman and Pur Bahadur Gurung from Nepal.
On Friday, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said several climbers had been spotted by drones but their condition was unknown.
The club's secretary general, Ayaz Shigri, told the BBC rescuers were concerned about the risk of further avalanches.
Military helicopters are on standby to fly to assist, weather permitting.
The search and rescue operation for the team began after reports of an avalanche on Thursday on the 8,047-metre (26,400ft) peak in the Karakoram range.
The multinational climbing group was being led by Purja. He is known for climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000m-plus mountains in just over six months in 2019.
Open Questions
- What is the condition of the climbers spotted by drones?
- When will weather conditions allow military helicopters to assist?
- What is the current status of the seven missing climbers?
