A British citizen is among a group of 10 international climbers missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak, one of the world’s highest mountains in northern Pakistan.

Renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who is a Nepal-born British citizen and served in the British Army and Royal Marines, was leading an expedition on the world’s 12th highest peak when the avalanche struck at midday on Thursday.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) said there had been no contact with any of the climbers since the avalanche.

Mr Purja rose to prominence in 2019 when he scaled all 14 of the world’s highest peaks in 189 days, smashing the previous record for accomplishing the feat by more than seven years. The climbs were made into a popular Netflix documentary, “14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible.”

He is one of five Nepalese climbers in the group, alongside Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi of Hunza, Omani climber Nathira, American climber Mallory Geis, a Chinese climber identified as Wang, and another foreign climber, ACP vice president Karrar Haidri said.

ACP president Major General Irfan Arshad and its senior leaders are in contact with government officials to “facilitate an immediate search and rescue operation”, the organisation said.

The statement said: “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.

“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 mobilised 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.”

The 8,047-metre (26,401ft) Broad Peak in the Karakoram range is the world's 12th highest mountain. Pakistan is home to several top mountain peaks, and climbers flock from all over the world to attempt to scale the summits.