Kathmandu, July 31 -- Four bodies have been recovered by ground rescue teams following an avalanche on Pakistan's 8,047-metre Broad Peak on Thursday, according to Irfan Arshad Khan, president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan. The identities of the bodies have not yet been confirmed.

The missing climbers include Nepal-born climber and former Royal Marine Nirmal Purja, along with Nepali climbers Pur Bahadur Gurung, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa and Nawang Thindu Sherpa. The team also includes Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, Chinese climber Wang Zhong, American climber Mallory Geis and Omani climber Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, according to a statement posted by the Alpine Club of Pakistan on its official Instagram account.

The A...