World-renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja and nine others have gone missing after being caught in an avalanche while climbing Broad Peak in Pakistan, according to international media reports.

The Pakistan Mountaineering Association said the group was struck by a sudden avalanche on Thursday afternoon while attempting to summit the 26,400-foot Broad Peak in the Karakoram mountain range.

The expedition was led by 43-year-old Nepali mountaineer and former Royal Marine Nirmal Purja, who is internationally known for climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks. His achievements inspired the Netflix documentary "14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible."

The team reportedly included climbers from the United States, including a woman from Texas, Oman, China, and five Nepali mountaineers.

Authorities have so far been unable to establish communication with the missing climbers. A large-scale search and rescue operation is currently underway as concerns grow over worsening weather conditions in the area.