10-Person International Climbing Team Missing After Pakistan's Broad Peak Avalanche
Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- An avalanche occurred on Broad Peak, Pakistan's 12th highest mountain, on Thursday, July 30.
- A 10-person international climbing team, including renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, went missing after the avalanche.
- Rescue operations are underway, with authorities seeking helicopter support and mobilizing all available resources.
A 10-person international climbing team has gone missing on Broad Peak, Pakistan, after an avalanche struck the mountain on Thursday. The team was led by Nirmal Purja, a celebrated mountaineer known for summiting all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in under seven months in 2019.
The avalanche occurred around noon local time on Thursday on the 8,047-meter-high Broad Peak, located in the Karakoram mountain range. Since the incident, contact with the climbing team has been lost. Reports indicate the team included climbers from the United States, China, Oman, and Nepal.
The club is praying for the safe rescue of all climbers and stands with their families and the international mountaineering community during this difficult time.
Broad Peak is considered one of the more challenging ascents in the region, ranking as the 12th highest mountain globally. The Alpine Club of Pakistan has stated they are in constant communication with government authorities to initiate emergency search and rescue operations. The club is exploring all avenues for helicopter support and the swift deployment of all necessary resources.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan expressed its commitment to rescuing all climbers safely and stands in solidarity with the families of the missing and the international mountaineering community during this difficult time. The club is making every effort to secure helicopter support and mobilize all available resources for the rescue.
We are doing everything possible to secure helicopter support and mobilize all available resources as soon as possible.
Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.