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Italy avalanche: six people found alive in hotel rubble Italy avalanche: six people found alive in hotel rubble
(35 minutes later)
Rescuers are working to free six people who have been found alive in the rubble of a hotel in central Italy that was flattened by an avalanche two days ago. Six people have been found alive in a ski resort hotel in central Italy that was flattened by a powerful avalanche on Wednesday, Italian officials have said.
“They are alive and we are talking to them,” fire brigade spokesman Luca Cari told Reuters from the scene. “Six people are alive and rescue workers are going to get them out,” Federica Chiavaroli, a junior minister at the justice department, told reporters in the town of Penne, where the rescue effort is being coordinated.
Crews have been digging by hand in the search for at least 30 people believed trapped after the devastating avalanche on Wednesday afternoon. Crews have been digging by hand in the search for at least 30 people believed trapped after the devastating avalanche on Wednesday afternoon. Two bodies have been recovered, and Italian state media reported another two had been located in the snow.
Two bodies have been recovered, and Italian state media reported another two had been located in the snow.
The search and rescue operation has been hampered by snow blocking the only road to the Hotel Rigopiano in Farindola and fears of triggering a fresh avalanche.The search and rescue operation has been hampered by snow blocking the only road to the Hotel Rigopiano in Farindola and fears of triggering a fresh avalanche.
A convoy of rescue vehicles made slow progress to the hotel, blocked by snow piled three metres (10ft) high in some places, fallen trees and rocks. By late Thursday, only 25 vehicles had arrived, along with 135 rescue workers, and civil protection authorities said part of the night was spent trying to widen the road. A convoy of rescue vehicles made slow progress to the hotel, blocked by snow piled three metres (10ft) high in some places, fallen trees and rocks.
The first rescue teams arrived on skis early on Thursday, and firefighters were dropped in by helicopter. Two people escaped the devastation and called for help but it took hours for responders to arrive at the remote hotel. The first rescue teams had arrived on skis early on Thursday, and firefighters were dropped in by helicopter. By late Thursday, only 25 vehicles had arrived, along with 135 rescue workers, and civil protection authorities said part of the night was spent trying to widen the road.
Two people escaped the devastation and called for help but it took hours for responders to arrive at the remote hotel.
Days of heavy snowfall had knocked out electricity and phone lines in many central Italian towns and hamlets, and the hotel phones went down early on Wednesday, just as the first of four powerful earthquakes struck the region.Days of heavy snowfall had knocked out electricity and phone lines in many central Italian towns and hamlets, and the hotel phones went down early on Wednesday, just as the first of four powerful earthquakes struck the region.
It wasn’t clear if the quakes triggered the avalanche. Emergency responders said the force of the massive snow slide collapsed a wing of the hotel that faced the mountain and rotated another off its foundation, pushing it downhill. It was not clear if the quakes triggered the avalanche. Emergency responders said the force of the massive snow slide collapsed a wing of the hotel that faced the mountain and rotated another off its foundations, pushing it downhill.
“The situation is catastrophic,” said Marshall Lorenzo Gagliardi of the Alpine rescue service, who was among the first at the scene. “The mountain-facing side is completely destroyed and buried by snow: the kitchen, hotel rooms, hall.”“The situation is catastrophic,” said Marshall Lorenzo Gagliardi of the Alpine rescue service, who was among the first at the scene. “The mountain-facing side is completely destroyed and buried by snow: the kitchen, hotel rooms, hall.”
One of the survivors reported that the guests had all checked out and were waiting for the road to be cleared to be able to leave. The snow plough scheduled for mid-afternoon never arrived and the avalanche hit sometime around 5.30pm on Wednesday. One of the survivors reported that the guests had all checked out and were waiting for the road to be cleared to be able to leave. The snow plough scheduled for mid-afternoon never arrived and the avalanche hit at about 5.30pm on Wednesday.
Prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into the tragedy, and among the hypotheses being pursued is whether the avalanche threat wasn’t taken seriously enough, according to Italian media. Prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into the tragedy, and among the hypotheses being pursued is whether the avalanche threat was not taken seriously enough, according to Italian media.
The Farindola mayor, Ilario Lacchetta, estimated that more than 30 people were unaccounted for: the hotel had 24 guests, four of them children, and 12 employees were onsite.The Farindola mayor, Ilario Lacchetta, estimated that more than 30 people were unaccounted for: the hotel had 24 guests, four of them children, and 12 employees were onsite.