2026 Broad Peak avalanche
Avalanche disaster on Broad Peak in Pakistan in 2026
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On 30 July 2026, an avalanche struck a group of ten summit-bound climbers on Broad Peak in the Karakoram range of Pakistan. The disaster occurred at about 6,600 m (21,700 ft) on the slope between Camp 2 and Camp 3, sweeping them down the mountain.[1]
- Broad Peak
Elevation 6,660 m (21,850 ft) - 35.811085°N 76.548743°E
Broad Peak from Concordia | |
 | |
| Date | 30 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location |
|
| Type | Avalanche |
| Deaths | 10 |
On 1 August, it was confirmed that all the climbers had died. The climbers were Nirmal Purja (Nimsdai), Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta), Nima Sherpa, Nadhira Al Harthy, Kili Pemba Sherpa (Kilu), Nawang Thindu Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, Sohail Sakhi, Mallory Geis, and Wang Zhong.[2]
Background
Broad Peak (8,051 m) is the twelfth-highest mountain in the world, located in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, close to K2.[3] In the 2026 summer climbing season, several expeditions were attempting the summit, including Nirmal Purja's EliteExped team. Purja was attempting to become the first person to climb all fourteen eight-thousanders three times, and to climb all fourteen twice without bottled oxygen.[4]
Several of those caught in the avalanche were experienced Sherpa guides from Nepal. Pur Bahadur Gurung, known as Yukta, an IFMGA-certified guide, was among the guides working for Purja's EliteExped team.[4] Kili "Kilu" Pemba Sherpa, one of the most experienced climbers of the Imagine Nepal team, had been part of the team, together with Purja, that completed the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021.[4] Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa, and Gyalu Sherpa were also among those caught in the avalanche.[4]
Nadhira Al Harthy of Oman, climbing with Seven Summit Treks, had become the first Omani woman to summit Mount Everest in 2019, and had previously summited K2 and Manaslu.[4] Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi was guiding American client Mallory Geis, who was on her first eight-thousander expedition.[4]
Conditions in the days before the avalanche were unstable. A climber who had left the mountain earlier in the season reported a major wind storm on 18 July, and said winds were too high and humidity elevated throughout the region, indicating likely fresh snow through 29 July.[4]
Avalanche
At approximately 9:30 a.m. local time on 30 July 2026, an avalanche struck the ten summit-bound climbers on the section of the mountain between Camp 2 and Camp 3. Their satellite GPS trackers recorded a rapid fall of several hundred metres; some climbers came to rest almost at Base Camp. Purja's tracker showed he fell about 800 m (2,600 ft), while Al Harthy fell almost to the base of the mountain.[4] A call for an aerial rescue was reportedly made only hours after the slide.[4]
Search and rescue
Two helicopters began an aerial search on the morning of 31 July, alongside ground parties operating from Camp 1.[4] A drone flight spotted additional bodies, but identification was impossible, and the GPS trackers of several missing climbers showed approximate locations of around 5,800 m (19,000 ft).[5]
The Alpine Club of Pakistan coordinated the rescue effort, and EliteExped, Purja's company, flew additional Nepalese climbers to Pakistan to join the search.[5] Most teams on neighbouring K2 aborted their summit pushes in order to assist.[5]
Casualties
On 31 July, the Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed the identities of three of the deceased climbers: Al Harthy, Gurung, and Geis.[6][7][4][8] Their bodies were recovered from the base of the avalanche, opposite Broad Peak Base Camp, by a team from the outfitter Karakorum Expeditions.[4] On 31 July, a drone was able to spot seven bodies, but was unable to confirm their identities, leaving one out of the ten unaccounted for.[9] An earlier report of four bodies found was later revised.[5][10]
On 1 August, Elite Exped team officially confirmed the death of all the climbers on its social media account.[11][12][13]
Deaths
| Name(s)[6][7][8] | Nationalities |
|---|---|
| Nadhira Al Harthy |  Oman |
| Pur Bahadur Gurung ("Yukta") |  Nepal |
| Mallory Geis |  United States |
| Nirmal Purja ("Nimsdai") | Nepal/ United Kingdom |
| Sohail Sakhi |  Pakistan |
| Wang Zhong |  China |
| Kili "Kilu" Pemba Sherpa | Nepal |
| Nima Sherpa | Nepal |
| Nawang Thindu Sherpa | Nepal |
| Gyalu Sherpa | Nepal |
Reactions
The Foreign Ministry of Oman publicly expressed condolences over Al Harthy's death and praise for her efforts to strengthen relations between Nepal and Oman.[14]