ISLAMABAD: The bodies of four climbers have been recovered as Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters and ground rescue teams continue a search-and-rescue operation for the remaining mountaineers missing after an avalanche hit Broad Peak in the Karakoram range, according to sources on Friday.
The 10-member international expedition was caught in the avalanche on Thursday while attempting to summit the 8,051-meter peak, one of the world's 14 mountains higher than 8,000 meters, and has remained out of communication since the incident, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) said in a statement.
The missing climbers include five Nepalese mountaineers led by renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal "Nims" Purja, Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi from Hunza, Omani mountaineer Nathira, American climber Mallory Geis, Chinese climber Wang, and another foreign climber.
Four bodies have so far been recovered from the 10-member team, sources said, adding that the search-and-rescue mission is being led by renowned Pakistani mountaineer Sarbaz Khan.
Earlier, the ACP said its president, Maj. Gen. Irfan Arshad, along with the club's senior leadership, had remained in contact with government authorities and relevant agencies to facilitate an immediate rescue operation.
The Alpine Club later confirmed the identification of two out of the four bodies recovered before the search was stopped for the night.
In an Instagram post, the club confirmed the identity of Oman’s Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy and Nepal’s Pur Bahadur Gurung and said that Harthy’s body was being transported by a helicopter to Skardu.
“Arrangements for Yukta’s transport are underway,” the club said, adding that the identities of the remaining “climbers will be confirmed and shared as soon as official information becomes available.”
“We urge everyone to await verified updates from ACP before sharing further details,” it added.
Rescue helicopters dispatched
The club confirmed that two Pakistan Army Aviation rescue helicopters, carrying rescue personnel and specialized equipment, had been dispatched to support the ongoing search.
"The helicopters are reinforcing efforts on the ground to assist the stranded climbers and enhance the effectiveness of the operation in the challenging high-altitude environment," the ACP said.
The club thanked Pakistan Army Aviation and all agencies involved for their swift response and said it remained hopeful for the safe recovery of the missing climbers.
"The Alpine Club of Pakistan is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with all concerned stakeholders," it said, adding that it stood in solidarity with the climbers' families and the international mountaineering community.
Purja, 43, is regarded as one of the world's most accomplished mountaineers. He gained international recognition after climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in six months and six days in 2019, a feat that was later featured in the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.
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