Famed British Mountain Climber Missing After Avalanche in Pakistan

Rescuers have so far recovered four bodies, according to Naik Nam Karim, a local tourism minister for the region. U.S. climber Mallory Geis, an Omani national and one of the Nepal nationals accompanying Purja have been confirmed dead. In all, 10 people were on the expedition.

The mountaineers were climbing Broad Peak, the 12th-highest mountain in the world at 26,400 feet, part of the Karakoram mountain range. There has been no communication with them since the avalanche hit around midday Thursday, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, which is coordinating the rescue effort using helicopters.

The club “stands in solidarity with their families and the international climbing community at this difficult time,” it said.