Police recover four bodies after avalanche traps climbers on Pakistan's Broad Peak

Search teams recovered four bodies on Friday from the site of an avalanche that struck an international climbing expedition on Broad Peak in northern Pakistan.

Gilgit-Baltistan police said efforts continued to locate the remaining missing mountaineers. The avalanche left 10 climbers unaccounted for, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP).

How many climbers were affected by the Broad Peak avalanche?

The avalanche struck an expedition of 10 climbers on Broad Peak, an 8,047-metre mountain in Pakistan's Karakoram range. Gilgit-Baltistan police confirmed four bodies had been recovered near the site, while the fate of the remaining climbers was still being established.

The team included five Nepalese climbers, one Pakistani, one Omani, one American, one Chinese climber and another foreign national.

Who was leading the Broad Peak expedition?

Renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who was leading the expedition, is among those reported missing. The 43-year-old former British Gurkha and Royal Marines serviceman gained international recognition after climbing all 14 of the world's peaks above 8,000 meters in a record six months and six days in 2019.

He also took part in the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021 alongside a team of fellow Nepali climbers.

The ACP said the entire team lost communication following the avalanche. Rescue efforts intensified on Friday as Pakistan Army aviation helicopters carrying rescue personnel and specialized equipment were deployed to support ground teams already operating in the high-altitude terrain. The club added that air operations remained subject to weather and operational conditions.

What caused the avalanche on Broad Peak?

Ayaz Shigri, the ACP's general secretary, said several expedition teams had begun their summit attempt together before the avalanche struck. GPS coordinates received from some of the missing climbers suggested the group had been swept nearly 1,000 meters downhill. Shigri said there were concerns that some local high-altitude porters may also have been caught in the avalanche, describing it as one of the most serious incidents on the mountain in recent years.

The club said it remained in close coordination with government authorities and rescue agencies while expressing support for the families of those missing.

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain Advocate directed provincial authorities to work alongside the Pakistan Army to accelerate the search operation, ordering all available resources to be mobilized. Provincial Tourism Minister Naiknam Karim said the government was maintaining close coordination among all relevant departments to support the rescue mission.

Where is Broad Peak located?

Broad Peak, the world's 12th-highest mountain, lies near K2 in the Karakoram range and is considered one of the most technically demanding climbs among the world's 8,000-metre peaks. The mountain was first summited in 1957 by an Austrian team.