The Alpine Club of Pakistan released this statement earlier about the missing climbers. Here it is in full:

The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) has received deeply concerning reports of an avalanche that struck a team of climbers on Broad Peak (8,047m) in the Karakoram mountain range around midday today.

According to the initial information received, the expedition comprises 10 climbers, including five Nepalese mountaineers led by the renowned climber Nims Dai [Purja], one Pakistani climber, Sohail Sakhi from Hunza, one Omani climber, one American climber, one Chinese climber, Mr. Wang, and one other foreign climber. The entire team has reportedly been out of communication since the avalanche.

President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Major General Irfan Arshad, HI(M), along with the senior leadership of the Club, is in constant contact with the highest government authorities and all relevant agencies to facilitate an immediate search and rescue operation. Every possible effort is being made to ensure that helicopter support and all available rescue resources are mobilized at the earliest opportunity, subject to weather and operational conditions.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with all concerned stakeholders. The Club prays for the safety and successful rescue of all the climbers and stands in solidarity with their families and the international mountaineering community during this difficult time.

Further updates will be shared as more information becomes available.

Search operations are expected to start soon, the BBC has learned.

A helicopter is set to fly off from the city of Skardu, says Karrar Haidri, the senior vice president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan.

In his last post on X before the expedition, published on Monday, Purja said that he had not intended to climb Broad Peak at first.

"Initially, the plan was to climb just G2," he wrote. But right before he set off for Pakistan, he realised that if he also managed to climb while he was there, he would only have one more mountain to conquer before becoming the "first person in history to climb all 14 eight-thousanders twice. Without oxygen."

An eight-thousander refers to a mountain that rises over 8,000m (26,247ft) above sea level. There are only 14 of them in the world.

"This wasn’t planned," Purja wrote. "But opportunities don’t scream: they whisper to those already working in silence."

"Broad Peak, I ask for nothing but safe passage up and back down. I take zero mountains for granted," he wrote.

Image source, Getty Images

Nirmal Purja is known for climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre plus mountains in just over six months in 2019. Before that, the record for climbing the 14 peaks stood at seven years and 10 months.

According to his website, the 14 peaks represented a "death zone" where human life could not exist.

He also holds six Guinness World Records for reaching many of the world's highest peaks at the fastest time.

Nepal-born Purja joined the British Army in 2003 and became a Royal Marine in 2009.

His climbing career began when he walked to Everest base camp in 2012 and, instead of returning as planned, decided to climb the entire mountain.

Pakistani mountaineering officials say the avalanche hit at around midday on Thursday on the 8,047-metre (26,400 ft) peak in the Karakoram range.

There has been no subsequent communication with the team since then.

The climbing group is said to include an American, a Chinese national, an Omani and five Nepalis.

Broad Peak is regarded as one of the more challenging mountains for expeditions, and is ranked as the world's 12th highest peak.

Image source, Getty

A ten-member international mountaineering team is feared missing after an avalanche in Pakistan's Broad Peak, one of the world's highest mountains.

The team includes world-renowned climber Nirmal Purja, a Nepal-born former member of the Royal Marines. There has been no communication with them since the avalanche hit on Thursday.

A search is expected to begin as soon as the weather permits. Stay with us as we bring you the latest developments.