Search operation to locate 7 climbers missing after Broad Peak avalanche resumes

Search and rescue efforts have resumed for seven climbers who went missing following an avalanche on Broad Peak earlier this week. The operation, which had been suspended late Friday due to adverse weather conditions, restarted Saturday morning.

On Friday, rescue teams recovered the bodies of three climbers: Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy from Oman, Pur Bahadur Gurung from Nepal, and Mallory Geis from the United States. These recoveries bring the confirmed death toll to three, while the search continues for the seven still missing.

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Mountain terrain, adverse weather, snow avalanche risks and snowfall create difficulties for rescue team members.

The missing climbers include five from Nepal, notably renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, along with Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa, and Gyalu Sherpa. Pakistan's Sohail Sakhi and China's Wang Zhong are also among those unaccounted for. The avalanche struck the 10-man team on Thursday while they were ascending Broad Peak at an altitude of approximately 6,600 meters.

Assisting in the ground mission is a three-member civil rescue team led by mountaineer Sarbaz Khan. Additionally, Nepali climbers at the basecamp and other expedition teams are participating. Pakistan Army helicopters are also en route to the area. Mingma David Sherpa, a prominent Nepali mountaineer, has arrived in Pakistan to support the ongoing search. Naila Kiani of Pakistan's Alpine Club noted that tracking device data indicates the climbers were swept hundreds of meters down the mountain.

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