Avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan Leaves 10 Climbers, Including Nirmal Purja, Missing

An avalanche struck Broad Peak, rising to 8,047 m in the Karakoram range on Thursday, July 30, 2026, and severed contact with an expedition of ten climbers, among them Nepal‑born mountaineer Nirmal Purja, resulting in their disappearance.

Team Composition

The party comprised an American, a Chinese national, an Omani climber, five Nepalese members and at least one Pakistani; the group had been attempting to summit the peak alone amid challenging weather conditions.

GPS Tracking Signals

While the team’s radios failed, Purja’s personal GPS device continued to transmit positional data, with his latest recorded position shifting before and after the avalanche; his business partner reported that the tracker had shown movement since the incident.

Search and Rescue Efforts

The Alpine Club of Pakistan and federal authorities have mobilised helicopters and ground teams to the area, planning an extensive search that depends on weather and terrain; however, no further contact has been established, and the avalanche may have buried the climbers.