Rescuers Battle Harsh Conditions on Broad Peak Amid Tragic Avalanche

In Pakistan, search and rescue teams faced challenging weather while looking for 10 climbers missing after an avalanche hit Broad Peak. On Friday, they found four bodies, continuing the search for the other six climbers despite adverse weather hampering helicopter access. A senior government official, choosing to remain unnamed, shared that retrieval efforts were underway, but details about the identities of the found bodies were not disclosed.

Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chief Minister Amjad Hussain confirmed that poor weather was affecting the rescue mission. Broad Peak, Pakistan’s second-highest mountain, witnessed an avalanche after the expedition team lost communication with their base camp. Karrar Haidri, of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, detailed that military helicopters joined the search operation, which persisted until Friday evening and was set to resume on Saturday.

The expedition included climbers from various nations: five Nepali climbers, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, Omani climber Nathira, American climber Mallory Geis, a Chinese climber named Wang, and another foreign climber. China’s government mentioned efforts to verify the status of any nationals among the missing, offering support as needed. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning promised assistance as necessary.

The leader of this climbing endeavor was Nirmal Purja, celebrated for scaling the world’s 14 tallest summit peaks in record time. His 189-day achievement in 2019 was documented in a Netflix release, “14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible.” His record was surpassed earlier this year.

Moving Mountains, a Pakistan-based travel company, had announced the expedition’s plans and wished the climbers a safe journey. Mallory Geis, from San Antonio, was attempting her first 8,000-meter climb. In contrast, for guide Sohail Sakhi, this climb was anticipated to be his last attempt. Sakhi’s background includes guiding, geography, and high-altitude photography.

Broad Peak, towering at 8,047 meters (26,401 feet), ranks as the world’s 12th tallest mountain. Located in Pakistan’s Karakoram range, the area attracts climbers worldwide with its formidable peaks. However, avalanches and swiftly changing weather often lead to accidents in this region.

Contributions to this report came from Khan in Peshawar, along with E. Eduardo Castillo in Beijing and Hallie Golden in Seattle.

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