Climate

Ten climbers missing after avalanche on Broad Peak, five confirmed dead including renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja

A ten-person climbing expedition on Broad Peak in Pakistan has been devastated by an avalanche, with five climbers confirmed dead and five still missing. Among the deceased is the world-renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, whose death was confirmed by his company, Elite Exped, on Saturday (Reuters via Ilta-Sanomat).

The avalanche struck the 8,000-meter summit of Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain, around midday on Thursday. The group lost contact with their base camp, and rescue efforts have been hampered by poor weather conditions. Army helicopters have been deployed in the search operation (Yle).

Confirmed fatalities and missing climbers

As of Friday, four bodies had been recovered from the avalanche site, with two identified as Omani climber Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy and Nepalese climber Pur Bahadur Gurung (BBC via Yle). On Saturday, Purja’s death was confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed fatalities to five. The remaining five climbers—including six Nepalese, one American, one Pakistani, and one Chinese national—are still missing (Yle, Ilta-Sanomat).

Purja’s company, Elite Exped, suggested that all ten climbers may have perished, though this has not been officially confirmed (Ilta-Sanomat).

Who was Nirmal Purja?

Purja, a 43-year-old British-Nepalese mountaineer, was a former British army soldier and one of the most celebrated climbers in the world. His most famous achievement came in 2019, when he climbed all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in just six months and six days, shattering the previous record of nearly eight years. His feat was documented in the Netflix film 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (Yle, Ilta-Sanomat).

Despite his accomplishments, Purja faced controversy in recent years. Finnish mountaineer Lotta Hintsa and doctor April Leonardo accused him of sexual harassment in separate incidents, allegations he denied. The case led to the loss of some of his sponsors (Yle).

Broad Peak: A dangerous climb

Broad Peak, located in the Karakoram mountain range in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, is known for its extreme conditions. The area’s five high peaks attract climbers from around the world, but avalanches and rapidly changing weather make expeditions perilous (Yle).

Rescue operations continue, though progress remains slow due to adverse weather. Authorities have not yet provided further updates on the missing climbers.

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