Avalanche Strikes Broad Peak: Mountaineering Team Feared Missing

An international mountaineering team of ten, spearheaded by Nepal-born former Royal Marine Nirmal Purja, is feared to be missing following a significant avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak. The incident occurred on Thursday midday, according to Pakistani mountaineering officials, on the 8,047-metre peak located in the Karakoram range. Since the avalanche, there has been no further communication with the expedition. The climbing group reportedly includes individuals from the United States, China, Oman, and five climbers from Nepal.

Nirmal Purja, the expedition leader, gained international acclaim for summiting all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre plus mountains in a record-breaking six months in 2019. Broad Peak, recognized as the world's 12th highest mountain, is considered one of the more formidable peaks for climbers. The Alpine Club of Pakistan is collaborating with government authorities to initiate an immediate search and rescue operation. Every effort is being made to deploy helicopter support, with all available resources being mobilized promptly, as the club expresses solidarity with the climbers' families and the wider mountaineering community.