The authorities of Pakistan have confirmed this Saturday the death of the ten members of a high mountain expedition who had disappeared after being trapped by an avalanche during the ascent to Broad Peak, an eight-thousander of 8,047 meters located in the Karakoram mountain range. Among the dead is the renowned Nepalese climber and former British Army soldier Nirmal Purja.
The president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Irfan Arshad Khan, has publicly expressed his condolences for the tragedy through a statement released on social media during the night. "With deep sorrow and a heavy heart, I express my heartfelt condolences for the tragic loss of some of the most prominent climbers in the devastating avalanche that occurred on Broad Peak (8,047 m), in the Karakoram," he stated.
The efforts to recover the bodies continue in the accident area. So far, rescue teams have managed to retrieve four corpses, while another five have already been located, although they remain unable to be evacuated due to the harsh terrain conditions, according to the officials in charge of the operation.
Purja was leading a team made up of ten climbers: six citizens of Nepal, one climber from the United States, another from Oman, one Chinese mountaineer, and one Pakistani.
The expedition stopped communicating with the base camp on Thursday morning, after an avalanche caught the group when they were above 6,000 meters in height during the ascent to Broad Peak.
The search operations began on Friday with support from helicopters of the Pakistani Army. A day later, a group of at least ten climbers from Pakistan and Nepal joined the rescue operation. The spokesperson for the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Ayaz Shigri, then confirmed that among the bodies found are those of climbers from Oman, Nepal, and the United States.
In a subsequent message, the Alpine Club of Pakistan emphasized that "this tragic tragedy has deeply saddened the entire climbing community in Pakistan and around the world." The organization has also expressed its recognition to the Pakistani Army, the high mountain rescue teams, the sherpas, and the rest of the personnel involved in the efforts, highlighting that "their bravery, commitment, and selfless efforts reflect the true spirit of humanity and mountaineering."
The official announcement comes just hours after the Nimsdai Foundation, driven by the mountaineer himself, also confirmed his death on social media. "Our deepest thoughts, prayers, and most heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends, and loved ones. There are no words that can ease the pain of this unimaginable loss, and we ask that everyone respects their privacy as they grieve," the entity has made known.
Along with the death of Nirmal Purja, the death of Omani climber Nadhira Al Harthy, Nepalese mountaineer Pur Bahadur Gurung, and American mountaineer Sarah Mallory Geis has also been verified.
Broad Peak, classified as the twelfth highest peak on the planet, attracts hundreds of climbers each year who try to summit its peak.