SKARDU: Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of eight climbers who went missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain, in Pakistan’s Karakoram range, officials said on Friday.
Authorities said four additional bodies were located during the latest phase of the search operation, bringing the total number of recovered climbers to eight. Three of the bodies recovered earlier in the day were transported to Skardu by helicopter.
Search-and-rescue operations remain underway for two missing climbers, with teams continuing to comb the remote, high-altitude terrain.
Provincial Tourism Minister Neiknam Karim said every effort was being made to locate the remaining climbers, adding that the tourism department was providing logistical support to the rescue mission.
The climbing team included mountaineers from the United States, China, Nepal and Oman, as well as Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi.
Broad Peak, which rises 8,047 meters (26,401 feet) above sea level, is one of Pakistan’s most challenging peaks for high-altitude expeditions.
Earlier, Rescue teams recovered the locations of four bodies on Friday after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range, leaving at least 10 climbers missing, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja, officials said.
Search-and-rescue operations continued for the remaining six missing climbers in the remote high-altitude area, according to sources at the Broad Peak base camp.
Two Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters were deployed to support the rescue effort, while teams searched the difficult terrain.
The missing expedition includes five Nepali climbers led by Purja, Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, Omani mountaineer Nadhira, American climber Mallory Geis, Chinese climber Mr. Wang, and another foreign climber.
The climbers are believed to have been swept away by an avalanche around midday Thursday at an altitude of about 6,600 meters on the 8,051-meter Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain.
Officials said the four bodies had been located but had not yet been recovered because of the hazardous conditions.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said the entire team had lost communication following the avalanche and expressed hope that the remaining climbers would be found alive.
According to Seven Summit Treks, three of its Sherpa guides were among those missing. Company director Chhang Dawa Sherpa said tracking data indicated the team was at approximately 6,600 meters before they appeared to fall from the mountain.
Purja, 43, is internationally recognized for completing the world’s 14 mountains above 8,000 meters in record time. His achievement gained global attention through a Netflix documentary.
More read, Pakistani Woman Naila Kiani Scales Broad Peak
Broad Peak, located in northern Pakistan’s Karakoram range, is considered one of the country’s most technically demanding high-altitude climbing destinations.
