'Silhouettes' spotted in search for missing climbers on Nanga Parbat in Pakistan

Silhouettes have been spotted in the search for two climbers who vanished on Pakistan’s “Killer Mountain” nearly two weeks ago.

Italian Daniele Nardi, 42, and Briton Tom Ballard, 30, last made contact from the Mummery Ridge of Nanga Parbat, the world's ninth-highest mountain, in the Himalayas on February 24.

After multiple helicopter, drone and ground searches, a rescue team led by Spaniard Alex Txikon claimed on Thursday they saw two silhouettes on the deadly mountain.

Mr Nardi’s Facebook page is being updated by his support team.

A post on Thursday says: "Alex tells us that yesterday from the base camp he has identified two silhouettes on the mountain; from this morning at dawn, they are operating to carry out in-depth observations of the wall.

"Upon arrival of the helicopters, expected soon, an exploration will be launched along the Mummery route for the close evaluation of some images of the telescope."

Alphine Club of Pakistan secretary Karrar Haidri said hopes of finding the pair were dwindling.

"Miracles do happen and have happened in the past in such incidents so we are hoping to find them," he said on Wednesday.

More than $145,000 pounds ($270,000) has been raised through GoFundMe to fund the $80,000-a-day rescue mission for Mr Nardi and Mr Ballard.

Mr Ballard is the son of climber Alison Hargreaves, who died descending the summit of K2 in 1995.

In the same year, she became the first woman to conquer Everest unaided.

Nanga Parbat, known to climbers as "Killer Mountain" and "Man Eater", has an 8000 metre peak and a 22 per cent fatality rate.