Four bodies recovered as rescue teams race to search for Nims Purja and others
Elite Pakistani climbers Sirbaz Khan and Sherzad Karim head to Broad Peak Base Camp by helicopter with rescue gear and oxygen.
PC: Karakorum Expeditions
Rescue teams recovered four bodies on Pakistan's Broad Peak on Friday after an avalanche swept away a 10-member international climbing team, while helicopters launched a search for six climbers still missing, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja.
The avalanche struck below Lower Camp III at an altitude of around 6,600 metres on Thursday, involving climbers from multiple expedition operators and several nationalities, according to expedition organiser Karakoram Expedition.
The company said its team member Waqar Ali, assisted by Nepali guide Sono Sherpa and two local climbers, recovered four bodies from the base of the avalanche opposite Broad Peak Base Camp after the victims had been swept hundreds of metres down the mountain.
The bodies are believed to be those of Omani climber Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy and Nepali guides Pur Bahadur Gurung, known as "Yukta", according to expedition officials. Authorities have yet to formally identify the two victims.
Those still missing are Pakistani Sohail Sakhi, American Mallory Geis, Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, widely known as "Nimsdai", and Nepali guides Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa.
Karakoram Expedition said two members of its own team were among those missing, but the family monitoring one climber's Garmin InReach satellite tracker had detected a slight movement signal after the avalanche, raising hopes the climber may still be alive.
Two helicopters carrying Pakistan's leading high-altitude climbers Sirbaz Khan and Sherzad Karim departed for Broad Peak on Friday with rescue equipment and supplemental oxygen to conduct an aerial search for the remaining missing climbers, the company said.
Tracking data reviewed by rescuers showed Purja's satellite tracker recorded his position at about 6,659 metres at 9:38 a.m. before indicating a rapid descent of roughly 800 metres to around 5,891 metres by 10:18 a.m. on Thursday. No further signals have been received since.
The avalanche is among the deadliest mountaineering accidents in the Karakoram in recent years. Search operations remain under way, although rescuers say the scale of the avalanche, unstable snow conditions and the steep terrain have made access extremely difficult.
Karakoram Expedition said it remained hopeful that those still missing could be found, adding that its "thoughts and prayers are with the families of everyone affected by this tragic accident."
