After 72 hours, K2 search for missing mountaineers continues as weather gets harsher

• Families of missing mountaineers decide to continue rescue mission.
• Search and rescue mission had come to a halt after 72 hours due to bad weather
• Mountaineers Muhammad Ali Sadpara, John Snorri and Juan Pablo Mohr went missing Saturday after summiting K2

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SKARDU: The families of three missing climbers from Iceland, Chile and Pakistan have decided to proceed with their rescue mission after 72 gruelling hours of nonstop intensive search-and-rescue efforts came to a halt due to bad weather.

Mountaineers Jon Snorri, Ali Sadpara and Juan Pablo Mohr had joined forces to make a summit bid on K2 – the last 8,000 metre peak unclimbed in winter until a team of 10 Nepali summited earlier this year. 

Rao Ahmad, Ali Sadpara’s long-time friend and Sajid Sadpara, Ali Sadpara’s son, along with British-American climber, Vanessa O’Brien, who also serves as Pakistan’s Goodwill Ambassador and summited K2 with Snorri, have formed a virtual base camp to ensure a thorough search-and-rescue effort.

O’Brien released a statement on behalf of the families of John and Pablo, thanking everyone who expressed interest in their climb and concern for their wellbeing.

Those who prayed for their safety and offered ideas and thoughts on the use of drones and search locations, we heard you and appreciate the care, concern and compassion you showed, the statement read.

The families have requested the Pakistan government continue to provide search and rescue support, weather permitting.