Ten climbers die in Broad Peak avalanches as Nirmal Purja mourned

British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja has died alongside nine other climbers after a series of severe avalanches struck Broad Peak in Pakistan, according to expedition company Elite Exped.

Rescue teams are still working to recover the victims’ bodies in exceptionally difficult weather conditions, with heavy snowstorms and treacherous terrain hampering efforts in the Karakoram mountain range.

Elite Exped announced the deaths on Saturday in an official statement paying tribute to Purja, one of the best-known figures in modern mountaineering.

“ The world has lost one of the greatest mountaineers,” the company said. It added: “There are no words that can ease the pain of this immense loss.”

The disaster happened on Thursday, when sudden avalanches swept across the slopes of Broad Peak and buried an expedition party of 10 climbers beneath tonnes of snow and ice. Broad Peak is regarded as one of the most dangerous summits in Pakistan’s Karakoram range.

Rescuers located four bodies on Friday and managed to retrieve three of them in a hazardous operation. However, worsening weather and intense snowstorms severely restricted the use of helicopters assigned to the search and recovery mission.

The operation was subsequently suspended temporarily as the conditions deteriorated and helicopter flights became increasingly difficult.

Military helicopters operated by Pakistan supported the resumption of the rescue effort on Saturday morning. Teams were attempting to locate the remaining six bodies while facing extreme mountain conditions, including record-low temperatures and difficult, rugged ground.

The deaths represent a major blow to the mountaineering community, particularly because of the loss of Purja, who was considered one of the most prominent climbers in the history of the sport.

Purja had achieved a series of exceptional feats in high-altitude mountaineering, establishing himself as a global icon in the pursuit of some of the world’s highest peaks.

The rescue operation remains focused on recovering the six climbers who have not yet been found. The severe weather, unstable snow and challenging landscape continue to create significant risks for the teams involved.

Elite Exped did not provide further details about the identities of the other victims in its statement, but confirmed that all 10 members of the expedition were caught in the avalanches on Thursday.

Broad Peak, one of the major summits of the Karakoram, has long been associated with highly demanding climbing conditions. The latest tragedy has highlighted the dangers faced by expeditions operating in the region, where rapidly changing weather and difficult access can make both climbing and rescue work extremely hazardous.