Ten mountaineers, including a climber from Texas and led by renowned Nepalese alpinist Nirmal Purja, are missing following an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. The incident occurred around midday on Thursday as the group was navigating the 26,400-foot summit located in the Karakoram mountain range.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed that a snowslide swept the team off the mountain, prompting an immediate search-and-rescue operation. Authorities have yet to receive any communication from the climbers, all of whom were believed to be near the summit of the world’s 12th highest peak at the time of the avalanche.

Purja, 43, is a former Royal Marine and well-known figure in the mountaineering community for his rapid ascents of the world’s tallest mountains. He gained international attention through the Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible,” which highlighted his record-breaking climbs.

Concerns have been raised about worsening weather conditions, which may have contributed to the accident. Napier Sandford Fuller, a 53-year-old experienced climber who recently led an expedition on Broad Peak, told reporters that persistent rainfall in the region likely turned to snow at high elevations, increasing avalanche risk. “It had been raining every day, which means that at high altitude it would have been snowing,” Fuller said.

Search teams continue to comb the area under challenging conditions, but no further updates on the status of the missing climbers have been released. The mountaineering community remains anxious as efforts to locate and assist the team proceed amid difficult terrain and unstable weather.