Avalanche in Pakistan Leaves Climber Nirmal Purja and 9 Others Missing

WHO:

The Seattle Times - The expedition leader was Nirmal Purja, known as Nims Dai, a Nepal-born former soldier in the British army.

AP - The expedition comprised five Nepali climbers, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, Omani climber Nathira, American climber Mallory Geis, and a Chinese climber identified only as Wang.

AP - Mallory Geis, 39, lives in San Antonio and announced on social media earlier this year that she was closing her Pilates studio to take “a giant leap of faith into the unknown to see where life goes."

CNN - Nirmal Purja made history in 2019 by climbing all of the world’s 14 peaks over 8,000 meters in just over six months.

NY Post - Climber Napier Sandford Fuller stated, "If there is an avalanche gully, you just have to go through. And if it hits, you're dead."

BBC - The group feared missing includes an American, a Chinese national, an Omani, and five Nepalis.

CNN - Nirmal Purja, a world-renowned climber, is among 10 climbers feared missing.

CNN - The expedition team includes nationals from Pakistan, Oman, China, and the US.

BBC - The Alpine Club of Pakistan is involved in the situation.

WHAT:

The Seattle Times - Rescuers located four bodies of the 10 climbers missing after the avalanche on Broad Peak and are continuing to search for the remaining six despite adverse weather conditions.

The Seattle Times - Efforts are underway to retrieve the bodies of the four climbers found, according to senior government officials.

The Seattle Times - The climbers lost contact with their base camp after the avalanche struck while they were attempting to scale the mountain.

The Seattle Times - China's government is trying to verify whether any of its nationals are among the 10 climbers missing and is willing to offer assistance as needed.

AP - Rescuers located four bodies of the 10 climbers missing after the avalanche on Broad Peak.

AP - The search for the remaining six climbers is ongoing despite adverse weather conditions hampering helicopter flights.

CNN - The Alpine Club of Pakistan stated that it is "in constant contact with the highest government authorities and all relevant agencies to facilitate an immediate search and rescue operation."

CNN - The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed that the avalanche struck around midday Thursday.

CNN - The Alpine Club of Pakistan stated it has received "deeply concerning reports" regarding the avalanche that struck the climbers.

CNN - An avalanche struck a team of climbers on Broad Peak, leading to 10 climbers being feared missing.

CNN - The Alpine Club reported that the entire team has been out of communication since the avalanche.

CNN - The Alpine Club is in constant contact with government authorities to facilitate a search and rescue operation.

WHERE:

The Seattle Times - Broad Peak is the world’s 12th-highest mountain, located in Pakistan’s Karakoram range.

CNN - The avalanche occurred on Broad Peak, which is located in the Karakoram mountain range in Pakistan.

CNN - Broad Peak has an elevation of 8,047 meters.

HOW:

AP - Army helicopters are part of the search-and-rescue operation for the missing climbers.

CNN - The Alpine Club emphasized that "every possible effort is being made to ensure that helicopter support and all available rescue resources are mobilized at the earliest opportunity, subject to weather and operational conditions."

BBC - The Alpine Club of Pakistan reiterated that it is "in constant contact" with authorities to mobilize resources for the rescue operation.

BBC - The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed it is "in constant contact" with authorities to mobilize all available resources for the rescue operation.

CNN - The Alpine Club stated that "every possible effort is being made to ensure that helicopter support and all available rescue resources are mobilized at the earliest opportunity, subject to weather and operational conditions."

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 15:40 UTC)

Rescuers have located four bodies of the ten climbers missing after an avalanche on Broad Peak, and they are continuing their search for the remaining six despite challenging weather conditions. The expedition, led by Nirmal Purja, also known as Nims Dai, lost contact with their base camp when the avalanche struck while they were attempting to scale the mountain. Meanwhile, China's government is working to verify if any of its nationals are among the missing climbers and has expressed its willingness to provide assistance as needed.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 10:54 UTC)

Rescuers have located four bodies of the ten climbers who went missing after an avalanche on Broad Peak, while the search for the remaining six climbers continues despite challenging weather conditions that are affecting helicopter flights. The expedition included five Nepali climbers, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, Omani climber Nathira, American climber Mallory Geis, and a Chinese climber known only as Wang. Mallory Geis, who is 39 and lives in San Antonio, had recently announced her decision to close her Pilates studio to embark on this adventurous journey.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 06:04 UTC)

Nirmal Purja, who made history in 2019 by climbing all of the world’s 14 peaks over 8,000 meters in just over six months, is currently the focus of an urgent search and rescue operation. The Alpine Club of Pakistan has confirmed that they are in constant contact with the highest government authorities and relevant agencies to facilitate this effort. They emphasized that every possible action is being taken to mobilize helicopter support and all available rescue resources as soon as weather and operational conditions allow.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 04:08 UTC)

An avalanche struck in Pakistan around midday Thursday, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan. Climber Napier Sandford Fuller emphasized the dangers of such a situation, stating, "If there is an avalanche gully, you just have to go through. And if it hits, you're dead." The Alpine Club also confirmed they are in constant contact with authorities to mobilize resources for the ongoing rescue operation.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 02:54 UTC)

The Alpine Club of Pakistan has reported receiving "deeply concerning reports" about an avalanche that has struck a group of climbers, which includes an American, a Chinese national, an Omani, and five Nepalis. The club confirmed that it is "in constant contact" with authorities to mobilize all available resources for the rescue operation. Efforts are underway to locate and assist those who are missing following this tragic incident.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 01:34 UTC)

An avalanche on Broad Peak in the Karakoram mountain range of Pakistan has left ten climbers, including renowned climber Nirmal Purja, feared missing. The Alpine Club of Pakistan is actively coordinating with government authorities to facilitate a search and rescue operation, as the entire team has been out of communication since the incident. They are making every possible effort to mobilize helicopter support and all available rescue resources, depending on weather and operational conditions.