Four bodies recovered after Broad Peak avalanche; search continues for missing climbers including Nirmal Purja

Four bodies have been recovered after an avalanche struck an international expedition team below Camp III on Pakistan's 8,047-metre Broad Peak on Thursday, as search and rescue operations continue for climbers still missing.

According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, the avalanche hit the climbing team around midday in the Karakoram range. Authorities have not officially confirmed the identities of the recovered bodies.

The missing climbers include Nepal-born mountaineer and former Royal Marine Nirmal Purja, along with Nepali climbers Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta), Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Nawang Thindu Sherpa. Also missing are Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, Chinese climber Wang Zhong, American climber Mallory Geis, and Omani climber Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy.

Expedition sources have reported bodies of two climbers among those recovered. However, officials have not independently confirmed the identities of any of the four bodies.

Pakistan's rescue authorities, supported by the Alpine Club of Pakistan, have mobilised helicopter and ground search teams. Rescue operations remain dependent on weather and mountain conditions.

Meanwhile, Nepal's Department of Tourism said it has instructed the Nepali Embassy in Islamabad to coordinate with Pakistani authorities in the rescue efforts. Despite reports that bodies have been recovered, the department has not confirmed any fatalities and continues to list all six Nepali climbers as missing.

Department spokesperson Himal Gautam described the incident as unprecedented and said Nepali expedition operators across Pakistan's climbing region are coordinating closely with local authorities. He added that conflicting information from the mountain means there is still a small possibility that some climbers could be found.

Broad Peak, the world's 12th-highest mountain, is one of Pakistan's five peaks above 8,000 metres and attracts climbers from around the world during the summer mountaineering season.