- A massive avalanche on the 26,400-foot-tall Broad Peak has left ten climbers missing, including Nirmal “Nims” Purja.
- The avalanche struck a group of climbers climbing Broad Peak around midday on Thursday, July 30, according to a press release posted on the Alpine Club of Pakistan’s Instagram channel.
- The entire team has been out of communication since the avalanche.
- Rescue efforts are underway, but are not expected to reach the mountain until Friday morning local time.
- Purja was leading an expedition for his company, Elite Exped, when the avalanche occurred.
- The other missing climbers include Pakistani guide Sohail Sakhi and his American client Hillary Geis, an Omani climber named Nathira, and a Chinese client known as Wang.
- The avalanche occurred only days after Nims completed his 57th successful ascent of an 8,000-meter peak with an oxygenless ascent of Gasherbrum II on July 21.
- Nirmal Purja is known for climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre plus mountains in just over six months in 2019.
- Pakistani mountaineering officials say the avalanche hit at around midday on Thursday on the 8,047-metre (26,400 ft) peak in the Karakoram range.
- An American, a Chinese national, an Omani, and five Nepalis are said to be part of the climbing group.
- The Alpine Club of Pakistan released a statement saying it had been 'in constant contact' with government authorities to launch 'an immediate search and rescue operation'.
- 'The Club prays for the safety and successful rescue of all the climbers and stands in solidarity with their families and the international mountaineering community during this difficult time,' it added.
A massive avalanche struck Broad Peak, one of the world's highest mountains, on July 30, leaving ten climbers missing, including Nirmal "Nims" Purja, a prominent figure in mountaineering. The avalanche occurred around midday, impacting a team led by Purja, who was conducting an expedition for his company, Elite Exped.15
The Alpine Club of Pakistan reported that the climbers have been out of communication since the incident. The missing group includes climbers from various nationalities: Pakistani guide Sohail Sakhi, American client Hillary Geis, Omani climber Nathira, and Chinese client Wang, along with five Nepalis.2
Rescue operations are currently underway, but officials have indicated that teams will not reach the site until Friday morning local time. The Alpine Club has been in contact with government authorities to expedite the search and rescue efforts, expressing solidarity with the families of the missing climbers.4
Purja is known for his remarkable achievements in mountaineering, including climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in just over six months in 2019. The avalanche struck just days after he completed his 57th successful ascent of an 8,000-meter peak, Gasherbrum II, without supplemental oxygen on July 21.7
'The Club prays for the safety and successful rescue of all the climbers and stands in solidarity with their families and the international mountaineering community during this difficult time,' the statement added.
“The avalanche struck at around midday on July 30, with the team, including climbers from various countries, losing all communication. The Alpine Club of Pakistan is coordinating with authorities for an immediate search and rescue operation, expressing solidarity with the families of the missing climbers.”
Outside Magazine
