Authorities in Pakistan have confirmed the identities of three climbers who died after an avalanche struck an international expedition on Broad Peak in the Karakoram mountain range. Search operations are continuing for several climbers who remain missing.
Officials identified the deceased as Mallory Geis of the United States, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy of Oman, and Pur Bahadur Gurung of Nepal. Their bodies were transported by helicopter to a hospital for identification procedures and other legal requirements. Ten climbers are still unaccounted for, including prominent Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal “Nims Dai” Purja.
The avalanche occurred on Thursday below Camp III on Broad Peak, which rises 8,047 metres above sea level. The incident swept through a multinational climbing team attempting to reach the summit of one of the world’s highest and most technically demanding mountains.
Rescue officials initially reported the discovery of four bodies before revising the information, stating that teams had recovered two bodies and one body part. Drone surveillance later detected additional victims in the avalanche zone, but authorities said their condition cannot be confirmed until rescue personnel reach the site. The whereabouts of one climber remain unknown.
Emergency teams are expected to resume search efforts on Saturday. Authorities noted that the challenging terrain and high-altitude conditions mean it could take several hours for rescuers to reach the affected area.
The expedition was led by Nirmal Purja, widely known as “Nims Dai,” who remains among those missing. Purja gained international recognition in 2019 after setting a world record by climbing all 14 mountains exceeding 8,000 metres within just over six months.
Officials said GPS tracking devices initially indicated movement from three members of the expedition, including Purja. However, one of the trackers was later found damaged, leading investigators to conclude that the recorded movement may have resulted from a technical malfunction rather than evidence of survivor activity.
As more than 24 hours have passed since the avalanche, authorities have acknowledged that the likelihood of finding survivors has significantly declined. Nevertheless, rescue personnel continue the operation despite the difficult conditions.
Earlier in the response effort, the Pakistan Army deployed two helicopters carrying specialist rescue teams and equipment to support search operations in the remote mountain region.
Among those still missing is veteran climber Kili Pemba Sherpa, who has reached the summit of Mount Everest 15 times and was a member of the all-Nepali team that completed the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021. Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi also remains unaccounted for after his GPS tracking device was found destroyed near the avalanche site.
Broad Peak is the world’s 12th-highest mountain and is widely regarded as one of the most technically challenging peaks in the Karakoram range. Since its first successful ascent in 1957, the mountain has been the site of numerous fatal accidents, reflecting the significant dangers associated with high-altitude climbing.
