Four bodies have been recovered from the avalanche site on Pakistan's Broad Peak, where a group of climbers went missing during an expedition.
Thaneshwar Guragain, general manager of expedition organizer Seven Summit Treks, said that the company had received reports that four bodies had been found.
"We have received information from the ground that four bodies have been recovered," Guragain told Setopati. "However, their identities have yet to be confirmed."
According to Guragain, the climbers were caught in the avalanche at an altitude of around 6,700 meters.
A total of 10 climbers, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, popularly known as "Nimsdai," had gone missing after the avalanche. The four bodies were recovered during the ongoing search operation.
Six of the 10 missing climbers are Nepali nationals from Gorkha, Dolakha, and Sankhuwasabha districts.
"They were all highly experienced climbers," Guragain said.
Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Ganesh Paudel also confirmed that four bodies had been recovered, adding that their identities had not yet been established.
"Helicopters and rescue teams are engaged in the search operation," he wrote. "We are in regular contact with the Pakistani authorities."
According to Seven Summit Treks, the missing climbers are Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy (Oman), Sohel Sakhi (Pakistan), Wang Zhong (China), Mallory Gais (United States), Nirmal Purja "Nimsdai" (Nepal), Pur Bahadur Gurung "Yukta" (Nepal), Kili Pemba Sherpa "Kilu" (Nepal), Nima Sherpa (Nepal), Nawang Thindu Sherpa (Nepal), and Gyalu Sherpa (Nepal).
Two helicopters from the Pakistani Army were dispatched to the site on Saturday morning carrying rescue personnel and specialized equipment.
According to the BBC, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said that the army helicopters were supporting the ongoing ground search and rescue operation to improve its effectiveness.
The club said that rescue efforts at such high altitude are extremely challenging, prompting the deployment of additional personnel and specialized equipment.
Mountaineers on other peaks in the Karakoram range have also joined the rescue effort. Climbers on K2 and K3 have reportedly descended from their camps to participate in the search operation.
Members of the commercial expedition company Imagine Nepal are also assisting in the rescue mission.
Standing at 8,047 meters, Broad Peak is the world's 12th-highest mountain and is located in the Karakoram mountain range. It is known for its challenging climbs. The avalanche struck the mountain on Friday, after which Nirmal Purja's team went missing.
In 2019, Purja set a world record by climbing all 14 mountains above 8,000 meters in just over six months. Broad Peak was one of those peaks.
The Department of Tourism, under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, said that it is coordinating with the Government of Pakistan through the Nepali Embassy to support the search for the missing climbers.
