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Rigopiano avalanche: Eight found alive in Italy hotel after two days | Rigopiano avalanche: Eight found alive in Italy hotel after two days |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Eight people have been found alive in Italy's Rigopiano hotel, two days after it was buried in an avalanche. | Eight people have been found alive in Italy's Rigopiano hotel, two days after it was buried in an avalanche. |
Rescuers said the survivors had been discovered buried under snow. Two are children, Italian media said. | |
Video footage of the first survivors being pulled free was released by rescue teams on Friday afternoon - more than 40 hours after the avalanche. | |
The deep avalanche buried the remote hotel, in the central Abruzzo region, after several earthquakes. | The deep avalanche buried the remote hotel, in the central Abruzzo region, after several earthquakes. |
At least four people have been confirmed dead, and about 20 are still missing, as the rescue effort continues in difficult conditions. | At least four people have been confirmed dead, and about 20 are still missing, as the rescue effort continues in difficult conditions. |
Teams have been working at the scene for more than 24 hours in temperatures well below zero. | Teams have been working at the scene for more than 24 hours in temperatures well below zero. |
A female relative told the BBC that her young cousins were those found alive by rescuers. | |
Her uncle - who was already being treated at the local hospital - was taken to see them, she said. | |
"My aunt is from Romania, she is 43 years old - her daughter just turned six years old, and the boy is eight," the woman, who asked not to be identified, said. | |
"They were on holiday and just getting ready to leave when the avalanche came." | |
She said they had still not had news about her aunt. "We are very worried," she added. | |
The survivors reportedly took refuge beneath a collapsed portion of ceiling, where they were able to light a fire to keep warm. | |
Italian media outlets said the group was made up of three men, three women, and two children. | |
The BBC's James Reynolds, in the nearby town of Penne, said news of the rescue had led to an outpouring of emotion. | The BBC's James Reynolds, in the nearby town of Penne, said news of the rescue had led to an outpouring of emotion. |
"In one village, a young woman - who's worked at the collapsed hotel - dropped to her knees and burst into tears when she heard the news," he said. | "In one village, a young woman - who's worked at the collapsed hotel - dropped to her knees and burst into tears when she heard the news," he said. |
Wednesday's earthquakes included four stronger than magnitude 5, in a region already struggling with heavy snowfall which buried phone lines and took out power cables. Phone lines were down at the Rigopiano hotel early on Wednesday. | Wednesday's earthquakes included four stronger than magnitude 5, in a region already struggling with heavy snowfall which buried phone lines and took out power cables. Phone lines were down at the Rigopiano hotel early on Wednesday. |
Some reports suggest the guests had gathered on the ground floor of the hotel to await evacuation following the earthquakes. | Some reports suggest the guests had gathered on the ground floor of the hotel to await evacuation following the earthquakes. |
But the avalanche completely buried the hotel at about 17:00 on Wednesday. | But the avalanche completely buried the hotel at about 17:00 on Wednesday. |
The force of the snow partially brought down the roof and, according to some reports, shifted the building 10m (11 yards) off its foundations. | The force of the snow partially brought down the roof and, according to some reports, shifted the building 10m (11 yards) off its foundations. |
Rescuers, who were forced to ski and shovel their way towards the site of the avalanche, were reportedly only dispatched hours later. | Rescuers, who were forced to ski and shovel their way towards the site of the avalanche, were reportedly only dispatched hours later. |
One survivor, who had left the hotel for his car, telephoned his boss, a man named Quintino Marcella, just after 17:30. | One survivor, who had left the hotel for his car, telephoned his boss, a man named Quintino Marcella, just after 17:30. |
Mr Marcella said he immediately contacted the authorities, but they did not initially believe him. He said he kept calling for two hours before being told help was on the way. | Mr Marcella said he immediately contacted the authorities, but they did not initially believe him. He said he kept calling for two hours before being told help was on the way. |
The first rescue team reached the hotel by 04:30 (03:30 GMT) on Thursday, after a night of freezing temperatures. | The first rescue team reached the hotel by 04:30 (03:30 GMT) on Thursday, after a night of freezing temperatures. |
Twenty-two guests and seven staff members were registered as being at the hotel, but the actual number is unclear, and rescuers say it could be as many as 35. | Twenty-two guests and seven staff members were registered as being at the hotel, but the actual number is unclear, and rescuers say it could be as many as 35. |
Two people who were outside the hotel at the time of the avalanche survived. | Two people who were outside the hotel at the time of the avalanche survived. |
A list of 23 names given by La Stampa newspaper suggests that most are Italians but they include a Swiss national and a Romanian. | A list of 23 names given by La Stampa newspaper suggests that most are Italians but they include a Swiss national and a Romanian. |
Three are children aged six, seven and nine, and the oldest person on the list is a man of 60. | Three are children aged six, seven and nine, and the oldest person on the list is a man of 60. |
Italy has seen a wave of damaging earthquakes in recent months. The Apennines region saw three magnitude-6 tremors between August and October. | Italy has seen a wave of damaging earthquakes in recent months. The Apennines region saw three magnitude-6 tremors between August and October. |
It is believed that the geological stress is spread across a number of fault lines in Italy's mountain ranges - with recent earthquakes as the result. | It is believed that the geological stress is spread across a number of fault lines in Italy's mountain ranges - with recent earthquakes as the result. |
Are you in the area or have you been affected by this incident? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area or have you been affected by this incident? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |