Ten climbers are unaccounted for on Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain, following an avalanche that struck the Karakoram range on Thursday, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan. The missing group includes Nirmal Purja, American climber Mallory Geis, and Omani mountaineer Nadhira Alharthy, who were caught in the slide between Camps 2 and 3 at an elevation of approximately 6,660 meters.
Search and Rescue Operations Mobilize for Missing Broad Peak Climbers
Major General Irfan Arshad, President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, is in constant contact with government authorities and relevant agencies to coordinate an immediate search and rescue operation, according to an official press release. Rescuers plan to deploy two helicopters loaded with oxygen and rescue personnel to Broad Peak on Friday, subject to weather and operational conditions. The expedition faced a critical communication blackout following the disaster. Naila Kiani of the Alpine Club of Pakistan told ExplorersWeb that officials did not learn of the avalanche until 10:00 pm, roughly 13 hours after the initial slide occurred at around 9:20 am, resulting in a lost day of potential response time.
Tracker Data Reveals Sudden Descent Pattern
Access to the climbers’ digital trackers reveals a concerning pattern showing movement stoppage and sudden elevation loss. Devices belonging to Nirmal Purja, Mallory Geis, and Nadhira Alharthy all indicate that the climbers halted their ascent at approximately 9:30 am Pakistan time on Thursday before dropping several hundred meters. Imagine Nepal reported that the team had successfully reached Camp 2 on Wednesday with plans to push toward Camp 3 on Thursday ahead of a summit bid on Friday.
Nirmal Purja’s Record-Breaking Bid Interrupted
Broad Peak represents a late addition to Nirmal Purja’s current climbing schedule. According to a social media post written by Purja prior to the incident, the climb was a last-minute decision made after running numbers on his 8,000-meter summits. Purja noted that successfully ticking off Broad Peak would leave only Cho Oyu, positioning him to become the first person in history to climb all 14 eight-thousanders twice without supplemental oxygen.
Did You Know? Broad Peak stands at 8,047 meters above sea level and is located in the Karakoram range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is missing on Broad Peak?
According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, 10 climbers are unaccounted for, including Nirmal Purja, Mallory Geis, Sohail Sakhi, Nadhira Alharthy, and a Chinese climber identified as Mr. Wang.
When did the avalanche happen?
The avalanche struck the climbing team on Broad Peak around 9:20 am on Thursday between Camps 2 and 3 at roughly 6,660 meters.
What rescue efforts are underway?
The Alpine Club of Pakistan has coordinated with government authorities to deploy two helicopters carrying rescuers and oxygen to the mountain on Friday, weather permitting.
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