2026 Broad Peak Avalanche

On July 30, 2026, a major avalanche occurred on Broad Peak, an 8,051-meter mountain in the Karakoram range of Pakistan. The incident resulted in the deaths of 10 climbers who were caught in the slide at an altitude of approximately 6,600 meters, between Camp 2 and Camp 3. The event is considered one of the most significant mountaineering disasters in the region in recent years.

Incident Details

The avalanche struck at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time. Satellite GPS data indicated that the climbers were swept down the mountain, with some falling as far as 800 meters. The conditions leading up to the event were characterized by instability, with reports of high winds and elevated humidity in the region during the preceding days, which likely contributed to the accumulation of fresh snow.

Search and Rescue Efforts

Following the initial report, the Alpine Club of Pakistan coordinated a search and rescue operation. Aerial searches involving helicopters began on July 31, while ground teams operated from Camp 1. The search efforts were bolstered by climbers from neighboring expeditions on K2, who abandoned their summit attempts to assist. Despite the use of drones and ground teams, the recovery process was hampered by the difficult terrain and the depth of the snow. By August 6, seven bodies had been recovered, though some remained inaccessible due to the hazardous conditions.

Casualties

All 10 climbers involved in the incident were confirmed dead by August 1, 2026. The victims included:

• Nirmal Purja (Nepal/United Kingdom)
• Pur Bahadur Gurung (Nepal)
• Kili Pemba Sherpa (Nepal)
• Nima Sherpa (Nepal)
• Nawang Thindu Sherpa (Nepal)
• Gyalu Sherpa (Nepal)
• Nadhira Al Harthy (Oman)
• Sohail Sakhi (Pakistan)
• Mallory Geis (United States)
• Wang Zhong (China)