Rescuers in northern Pakistan have recovered the bodies of three climbers following an avalanche on Broad Peak, while search operations continue for the remaining members of a multinational expedition that disappeared after losing contact with base camp.
The recovered climbers were identified by the Gilgit-Baltistan Information Department as American climber Mallory Geis, Omani climber Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, and Nepalese climber Pur Bahadur Gurung.
The bodies were transported by helicopter to a hospital for legal identification formalities.
Authorities said rescue teams had also located additional human remains, but adverse weather has continued to complicate access to the high-altitude site.
The avalanche struck the 8,047-meter Broad Peak in Pakistan's Karakoram range on Thursday as a 10-member expedition attempted to climb the mountain.
The expedition included climbers from Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, the United States, China, and another foreign participant.
Officials said the group lost communication with base camp shortly after the avalanche.
Pakistan Army helicopters, rescue personnel, and specialized equipment have been deployed, but poor weather has repeatedly disrupted aerial operations.
Search efforts paused Friday evening and are scheduled to resume when conditions permit.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said one climber's location remains unknown, while aerial drones have identified several others whose conditions cannot yet be confirmed until ground teams reach the area.
The expedition was led by Nepal-born mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who is internationally known for climbing all 14 mountains above 8,000 meters in a record-setting ascent completed in 2019.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said GPS signals from three expedition members, including Purja, were initially detected, but rescuers later found one of the trackers smashed, leading officials to believe the earlier movement may have resulted from a technical glitch.
China's Foreign Ministry said it was verifying whether any Chinese nationals were among the missing climbers and stated it was prepared to provide assistance if needed.
Broad Peak is regarded as one of the world's most challenging mountains, where avalanches and rapidly changing weather frequently complicate climbing expeditions and rescue operations.