Avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak leaves multinational climbing team missing

Search and rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate climbers missing after a suspected avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak, with authorities confirming that four bodies have been located as operations continue in one of the world's most challenging mountain environments.

At least 10 climbers are believed to have been caught in the avalanche on Thursday (30 July) while attempting to climb the 8,051-metre peak in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region. Pakistani authorities have deployed two Army Aviation rescue helicopters to support the search in what officials described as a remote and difficult area.

The missing team is reported to include climbers from Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, the US, and China, underscoring the multinational nature of many high-altitude expeditions. Among those reported missing is Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who is widely known for completing all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks in record time.

Rescue operations have been hampered by the challenging terrain and the team's loss of communication following the suspected avalanche. Authorities said the four bodies located on Friday had yet to be recovered.

Incidents involving high-altitude expeditions present some of the most complex emergency response scenarios. Rescue operations often depend on favourable weather, specialist aviation assets, and coordination between local authorities, expedition operators, and international assistance organisations, while any subsequent medical evacuation or repatriation can be both logistically demanding and resource intensive.

In February, eight skiers were confirmed dead after a large backcountry avalanche near Castle Peak, northwest of Lake Tahoe, during a powerful winter storm in northern California, US.