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Pakistan avalanche: Search for climbers resumes, three bodies recovered
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช Ireland /Disasters & Emergencies

Pakistan avalanche: Search for climbers resumes, three bodies recovered

From RTร‰ News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • Rescue teams in Pakistan are searching for seven climbers missing after a powerful avalanche struck Broad Peak.
  • The remains of three mountaineers, including an American woman, an Omani woman, and a Nepali man, have been recovered.
  • Renowned climber Nirmal Purja is among the missing expedition members, who were ascending the 8,047-meter peak.

Rescue operations have resumed on Pakistan's Broad Peak for seven climbers feared dead after a powerful avalanche struck the international expedition on Thursday. The remains of three mountaineers, an American woman, an Omani woman, and a Nepali man, have been recovered and flown for identification.

The rescue operation is being conducted under extremely challenging terrain and high-altitude weather conditions by the Pakistani army in coordination with local high-altitude climbers and rescuers.

โ€” regional government statementDescribing the difficulties and coordination involved in the search for the missing climbers.

High-altitude porters and rescue teams, supported by military helicopters, are conducting the search under extremely challenging terrain and weather conditions. Drone footage has reportedly spotted more bodies. The operation is a coordinated effort between the Pakistani army and local climbers.

The rescue team has reported that they have spotted a few (more) dead bodies of the climbers through drone footage.

โ€” regional government statementProviding an update on the search efforts.

The avalanche occurred as the ten-member expedition, led by celebrated British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, was ascending the 8,047-meter peak at an altitude of approximately 6,600 meters. Purja, who was aiming to become the first person to climb all 14 "super peaks" twice without oxygen, is among the missing. The team's tracking devices indicated they were swept hundreds of meters down the mountainside.

Data from their tracking devices indicates that they were thrown hundreds of metres down the mountainside.

โ€” Naila KianiExplaining the impact of the avalanche based on tracking data.

Broad Peak, located in the Karakoram range, is considered one of the most technically demanding climbs among the world's highest mountains. Purja, a former member of Britain's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Royal Marines, holds records for climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in a remarkably short time.

Broad Peak, I ask for nothing but safe passage up and back down.

โ€” Nirmal PurjaPurja's pre-expedition sentiment expressed on X.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by RTร‰ News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.