An avalanche sweeping across Pakistan's Broad Peak has claimed the lives of at least four climbers, including the first Omani woman to summit Mount Everest, while six others remain unaccounted for in the treacherous Karakoram range. Main Developments Pakistani officials confirmed on Friday that rescue teams recovered three bodies in harsh weather that repeatedly grounded search-and-rescue helicopters. The deceased were identified as Nadhira Al Harthy of Oman, Nepalese climber Pur Bahadur Gurung, and American Sarah Mallory Geis; a fourth body found at the site has not yet been identified. The avalanche struck the 8,051-metre (26,414ft) peak, the world's 12th-highest mountain, around midday on Thursday. Sajid Hussain, deputy director of the tourism department in Gilgit-Baltistan, described the search zone as "remote and difficult," complicating efforts to locate the six climbers still missing. Read also: How US-Iran Ties Collapsed: A 70-Year Rivalry Explained The expedition was led by Nirmal Purja, a Nepal-born former British army soldier known as Nims Dai, who climbed the world's 14 highest peaks in a record 189 days in 2019—a feat documented in the Netflix film 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible . His record was surpassed in 2023. Background The climbing team comprised five Nepali mountaineers, the Omani and American climbers, Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, a Chinese climber identified only as Wang, and one other foreign national, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan. Al Harthy, who held a master's degree in geography and had served as director of the Citizenship Department at Oman's Ministry of Education, made history in 2019 by becoming the first Omani woman to summit Everest and later the first Omani to conquer K2, the world's second-highest peak. Geis, a 39-year-old from San Antonio, was attempting her first 8,000-metre peak in Pakistan, having closed her Pilates studio earlier this year to pursue climbing full-time. Gurung, known to friends as Yukta, was a veteran mountaineer with 10 successful Everest ascents and had summited 12 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks. He had also set a record by climbing K2 within 24 hours and was frequently involved in rescue operations for tourists in Nepal. Why It Matters Broad Peak is regarded as one of Pakistan's most challenging climbs, and the incident underscores the risks inherent in high-altitude mountaineering in the Karakoram. Of the world's 14 highest peaks, five are in Pakistan, making the region a focal point for elite climbers, yet its remote terrain complicates rescue efforts. The deaths highlight the growing diversity in mountaineering, as climbers from Oman, the US, and Nepal converge on these peaks, each bringing unique achievements and aspirations. The loss of Al Harthy, a trailblazer for Omani women, and Geis, a novice at this altitude, illustrates the thin line between ambition and tragedy. What's Next Rescue teams continue to search for the six missing climbers, though adverse weather may delay helicopter operations. Officials have not yet released details on the fourth recovered body or the full list of those still unaccounted for. Questions remain about the circumstances of the avalanche and whether any survivors could be found in the remote, high-altitude zone. The Alpine Club of Pakistan is expected to provide further updates as the search progresses.