Watch: Broad Peak avalanche that killed record-breaking mountaineer Nirmal Purja
Renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja and several others were killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. Rescue operations were hampered by severe weather conditions, though some bodies have been recovered.
Why it matters
The death of a high-profile mountaineer who held significant world records marks a major loss for the global climbing community.
Pakistan-based tour operator Karakoram Vision said the visuals were captured from base camp on July 30 as the group climbed the mountain. It claimed an avalanche struck above the climbers and that no one was visible after the snow cleared. The visuals have not been independently authenticated. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karakoram Vision Pakistan (@karakoramvision)What happened on Broad Peak?The avalanche at about 5,700 metres swept away the 10-member expedition on Thursday on Broad Peak, an 8,051-metre mountain in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Gilgit-Baltistan region and the world’s 12th-highest peak.The group included climbers from Nepal, Pakistan, the US, Oman and China. Ground and military-backed rescue teams searched the mountain with helicopters and drones, but poor weather and hazardous terrain hampered operations.
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