A French mountaineer has died after being hit by an avalanche during an expedition on K6 peak in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ghanche district, local officials and tour operators said.

The climber was identified as Guillaume Pierrel, who was attempting to scale the 7,282-metre K6 in the Karakoram range when the accident occurred. The incident took place in the Hushe Valley area, a major route for climbing expeditions in the region.

According to Dawn, Pierrel was part of a three-member international climbing team that included French climber Boris Jule and Swiss climber Christina Maria. The team had started the expedition on June 6.

Tour operator Ishaq Ali said the avalanche struck the team at an altitude of around 5,000 metres. Pierrel died on the spot, while the other two members of the expedition remained safe.

Rescue efforts were launched after the accident. Local rescuers from Hushe village were working to move the body from the mountain area toward the base camp and then to a lower settlement.

K6 is considered one of the difficult and technical peaks in the Karakoram, where climbers face harsh weather, steep routes and avalanche risks.

The death has caused concern among local communities and international mountaineering circles as Pakistan’s northern region continues to attract foreign climbers during the summer expedition season.

Gilgit-Baltistan is home to some of the world’s highest and most challenging mountains, including several peaks above 7,000 metres, making it a major destination for mountaineering and adventure tourism.

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