TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pakistani rescue teams have recovered three of four bodies located after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in northern Pakistan, leaving at least six climbers still missing, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja.
The Gilgit-Baltistan regional government said on Friday that the recovered victims were identified as Nepalese climber Pur Bahadur Gurung, Omani mountaineer Nadhira Al Harthy, and American climber Mallory Geis. The fourth body has been located but had not yet been recovered.
The avalanche hit Broad Peak, the world's 12th-highest mountain at 8,047 meters, in Pakistan's Karakoram mountain range. Authorities said rescue operations remain focused on a remote and difficult section of the mountain.
According to Al Jazeera, Sajid Hussain, deputy director of the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department, said search teams continue looking for the remaining missing climbers despite difficult terrain and challenging conditions.
Among those still unaccounted for is Purja, widely known as Nims Dai, who gained international recognition after setting what was then the fastest record for climbing all 14 mountains above 8,000 meters in just six months and six days in 2019.
Purja, 43, is regarded as one of the world's leading high-altitude climbers. After leaving the British military in 2018 to pursue mountaineering full-time, he broke multiple climbing records, including participating in the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021 alongside a team of nine Nepali climbers.
The expedition involved 10 climbers from several countries. The Alpine Club of Pakistan said the team included five Nepalese climbers, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, a Chinese climber identified only as Wang, Omani climber Al Harthy, and American climber Geis.
The club said the entire team lost communication following the avalanche and described the situation as deeply concerning.
Rescue operations have been hampered by weather and the mountain's harsh terrain. The Alpine Club of Pakistan said helicopter support and all available rescue resources were being mobilized as conditions permitted.
Al Harthy was celebrated as the first Omani woman and only the second Omani national to summit Mount Everest. She also successfully climbed several of the world's highest peaks, including Manaslu, K2, and Nanga Parbat, becoming a prominent figure in Oman's mountaineering community.
Geis, 39, had recently left her Pilates business to pursue full-time outdoor adventures. In a social media post earlier this year, she described the career change as "a giant leap of faith into the unknown," adding that she expected "lots of helmets, harnesses, and crampons" to become part of her new life.
Pakistani police also indicated that two British nationals—a man and a woman—were among those still missing, although authorities have not released their identities.
Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry said it was working to verify the status of the missing Chinese climber and expressed Beijing's willingness to provide assistance to Pakistan if needed.
Search efforts remain ongoing as authorities race against time to locate the six missing climbers.
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