Key facts
- Famed mountaineer Nirmal Purja died in an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak.
- All 10 members of Purja's expedition team perished in the incident.
- The avalanche occurred on Thursday while the team was ascending the mountain.
- Rescuers have recovered the remains of three climbers, including an American, an Omani, and a Nepali national.
- Purja was known for his record-setting ascent of the world's 14 highest mountains.
Renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja and all nine members of his expedition team died in a powerful avalanche on Broad Peak in northern Pakistan. Purja's climbing company, Elite Expeditions, confirmed the tragedy on Saturday, stating that the team lost contact with their base camp on Thursday after the avalanche struck while they were ascending the 8,047-meter mountain at an altitude of approximately 6,600 meters.
Rescuers, operating under challenging terrain and weather conditions, recovered the remains of three climbers, which were flown to a hospital for identification. These included an American woman, an Omani woman, and a Nepali man. Data from tracking devices indicated the climbers were thrown hundreds of meters down the mountainside.
Purja, 43, was celebrated for his record-setting ascent of the world's 14 highest mountains in 2019 and was attempting to climb Broad Peak, the world's 12th highest mountain. He had previously become the first person to scale Mount K2 in winter. The Prime Minister of Nepal offered condolences for the "tragic" deaths, highlighting the climbers' courage and contributions.