Ten climbers, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, are feared missing after an avalanche struck their expedition on Broad Peak (8,047 meters) in the Karakoram range in northern Pakistan, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP).

In a statement issued late Thursday, the ACP said it had received “deeply concerning reports” of the avalanche and that the team, led by Purja, had been out of communication since the incident. The expedition comprises five Nepalis, one Pakistani, one Omani, one Chinese, one American, and one climber of undisclosed nationality.

“The entire team has reportedly been out of communication since the avalanche,” the club said, adding that every possible effort is being made to mobilize helicopter support and rescue resources, subject to weather and operational conditions.

Purja, 43, also known as Nims Dai, has been a prominent figure in mountaineering since leaving the British military in 2018. He gained international fame in 2019 by climbing all 14 eight-thousanders in six months and six days, a record at the time.

In 2021, he completed the first winter ascent of K2 as part of a team of nine other Nepalese climbers. The current incident has sent shockwaves through the global climbing community, with rescue efforts underway.

Source: www.aljazeera.com