Broad Peak Avalanche Kills 10 Climbers, Including Oman’s Nadhira Al Harthy and Nirmal Purja

Ten mountaineers have died after an avalanche swept away an international expedition on Broad Peak in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region. The victims included pioneering Omani climber Nadhira Ahmed Al Harthy and renowned Nepal-born mountaineer Nirmal “Nims” Purja.

The avalanche struck on Thursday, July 30, while the team was climbing the 8,051-metre mountain, the world’s 12th-highest peak. Contact with the expedition was lost shortly after the incident, before Elite Exped and the Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed that none of the ten climbers had survived.

Rescue teams used helicopters, aerial reconnaissance and drones to locate the victims. Three bodies were recovered, including Al Harthy’s, while other climbers were located in terrain considered extremely difficult and dangerous to reach. Poor weather also disrupted helicopter operations.

Al Harthy became the first Omani woman to summit Mount Everest in 2019 and later climbed K2 and Manaslu. Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth confirmed her death, prompting tributes from the country’s sporting community.

Purja, 43, achieved international recognition after climbing all 14 of the world’s mountains above 8,000 metres in 189 days in 2019. His achievement was featured in the Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.”

Recovery efforts remain under way, although Pakistani officials said the extreme altitude, unstable terrain and risks facing rescue personnel were making the operation exceptionally difficult.