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Italy earthquakes: Many feared dead in hotel buried by avalanche Italy earthquakes: Many feared dead in hotel buried by avalanche
(about 1 hour later)
Thirty people are missing after an avalanche buried a small hotel in the mountains of central Italy after a series of earthquakes, authorities say. Thirty people are missing after an avalanche buried a small hotel in the mountains of central Italy after a series of earthquakes, authorities say. 
The avalanche covered the three-storey hotel in Abruzzo, an earthquake-hit zone of central Italy, on Wednesday evening. The avalanche covered the four-storey hotel in Abruzzo, an earthquake-hit zone of central Italy, on Wednesday evening.
The civil protection agency said it is working to get emergency vehicles to the Hotel Rigopiano, in the town of Farindola, through roads covered in snow, joining initial rescue efforts overnight by alpine rescue squads.The civil protection agency said it is working to get emergency vehicles to the Hotel Rigopiano, in the town of Farindola, through roads covered in snow, joining initial rescue efforts overnight by alpine rescue squads.
Italian news agency Ansa quoted the head of a mountain rescue squad as saying "there are many dead."Italian news agency Ansa quoted the head of a mountain rescue squad as saying "there are many dead."
Mountain rescue teams reached the hotel by skis around 4am (3am GMT). Rescue workers were met with an eerie silence as they searched the four-star spa hotel. Mountain rescue teams reached the hotel by skis around 4am (3am GMT). Rescue workers were met with an eerie silence as they searched the four-star spa hotel. 
One dead body has been pulled from the snow. Three dead bodies have been pulled from the snow, Italian media reports.
Rescue workers declined to comment on the reports, but said they had yet to find any sign of life.
Two men who were outside the building at the time of the disaster and raised the alarm.Two men who were outside the building at the time of the disaster and raised the alarm.
"I am alive because I went to get something from my car," one of the two, Giampiero Parete, told medical staff, according to la Repubblica website."I am alive because I went to get something from my car," one of the two, Giampiero Parete, told medical staff, according to la Repubblica website.
He told doctors his wife and two children were buried in the avalanche.He told doctors his wife and two children were buried in the avalanche.
"Help, we're dying of cold," one couple trapped inside wrote to rescuers, according to Ansa."Help, we're dying of cold," one couple trapped inside wrote to rescuers, according to Ansa.
Another man, identified by news reports as Fabio Salzetta, sent a SMS message saying he had escaped with a maintenance worker, but that others were trapped inside. Another man, identified by news reports as Fabio Salzetta, sent a SMS message saying he had escaped with a maintenance worker, but that others were trapped inside. 
Corriere della Sera quoted the text message as saying: "Some walls were knocked down." And: "I'm outside with a maintenance worker but you can't see anything of the hotel, there's only a wall of snow in front of me." Corriere della Sera quoted the text message as saying: "Some walls were knocked down." And: "I'm outside with a maintenance worker but you can't see anything of the hotel, there's only a wall of snow in front of me." 
"Around 30 people are unaccounted for, between guests and workers at the Hotel Rigopiano in Farindola," said Fabrizio Curcio, head of Italy's civil protection department."Around 30 people are unaccounted for, between guests and workers at the Hotel Rigopiano in Farindola," said Fabrizio Curcio, head of Italy's civil protection department.
"We're dropping our rescue units down by helicopter and they are starting to dig," said Luca Cari, a spokesman for the national fire brigades."We're dropping our rescue units down by helicopter and they are starting to dig," said Luca Cari, a spokesman for the national fire brigades.
Video footage showed rescuers arriving at the hotel, which had been buried under the avalanche.Video footage showed rescuers arriving at the hotel, which had been buried under the avalanche.
Later footage showed piles of snow and rubble cascading down the stairway into the foyer of the hotel.Later footage showed piles of snow and rubble cascading down the stairway into the foyer of the hotel.
An ambulance was blocked several kilometres from the hotel, Sky reported, adding that snowfall was so heavy snow plows have had trouble clearing the road to the hotel.An ambulance was blocked several kilometres from the hotel, Sky reported, adding that snowfall was so heavy snow plows have had trouble clearing the road to the hotel.
The president of Pescara province wrote on Facebook that there were 20 guests at the hotel when it was covered by the avalanche, about 30 miles from the coastal city of Pescara.The president of Pescara province wrote on Facebook that there were 20 guests at the hotel when it was covered by the avalanche, about 30 miles from the coastal city of Pescara.
The head of the Italy's civil protection authority has defended the response to a new series of earthquakes coupled with unusual snowfall. Criticism has started to emerge about the response of emergency crews to Italy's snow-covered quake zone, including over when rescue teams were sent to the hotel.
Fabrizio Curcio said authorities are confronting "two exceptional events that that already alone would have created great difficulty in the response."  A restaurant owner, Quintino Marcella, said he received a phone call at 5.30pm on Wednesday from one of his chefs who was on holiday at the hotel, who had escaped but said his wife and two children were trapped inside.
For the heavy snowfall, Mr Curcio said ''we try to tell people to stay in their own homes, if they are secure, obviously. And in the areas of quakes, people should leave their homes. "He calls me and says 'Help me, an avalanche has hit and the hotel isn't there anymore. It's disappeared. It's buried. Two of us are here but call rescue crews'."
Mr Marcella said he immediately called police and a local emergency coordination centre, but was assured that the hotel had phoned two or three hours earlier reporting everything was OK.
Mr Marcella said he frantically tried to call other emergency numbers but no one took him seriously.
However, head of the Italy's civil protection authority has defended the response to a new series of earthquakes coupled with unusual snowfall.
Fabrizio Curcio said authorities are confronting "two exceptional events that that already alone would have created great difficulty in the response." 
For the heavy snowfall, Mr Curcio said ''we try to tell people to stay in their own homes, if they are secure, obviously. And in the areas of quakes, people should leave their homes.
"Putting together these two elements is extremely complicated.""Putting together these two elements is extremely complicated."
A spate of strong earthquakes hit central Italy on Wednesday.A spate of strong earthquakes hit central Italy on Wednesday.
Four magnitude 5.2 and higher quakes struck near the hill town of Amatrice, some 100 km (60 miles) northeast of Rome, in the space of four hours. Much of the area had already been abandoned after last year's earthquakes.Four magnitude 5.2 and higher quakes struck near the hill town of Amatrice, some 100 km (60 miles) northeast of Rome, in the space of four hours. Much of the area had already been abandoned after last year's earthquakes.
A deadly 6.2 magnitude earthquake killed nearly 300 people in the country's central regions in August.A deadly 6.2 magnitude earthquake killed nearly 300 people in the country's central regions in August.
That was followed by at least two more deadly earthquakes in Umbria and Marche in October, both measuring over six on the Richter scale.That was followed by at least two more deadly earthquakes in Umbria and Marche in October, both measuring over six on the Richter scale.
Italy's Apennine mountains lie along an active fault line between the Adriatic and Eurasian plates, causing frequent seismic activity.Italy's Apennine mountains lie along an active fault line between the Adriatic and Eurasian plates, causing frequent seismic activity.
Seismologists say previous quakes have stressed the Laga Fault, which is rupturing.Seismologists say previous quakes have stressed the Laga Fault, which is rupturing.