An avalanche in central Italy triggered by a series of at least four earthquakes buried a hotel where an estimated 30 victims are missing (some reports have the number as high as 35). At the end of the day, Thursday, rescuers had uncovered at least three bodies of deceased victims.
Hotel Rigopiano is in the mountain town of Farindola in the Abruzzo region. According to authorities, multiple earthquakes, all above 5.0 in magnitude, have triggered avalanches and damaged infrastructure. Rescuers had a tough time reaching the hotel as roads have been cut off–reportedly, the first trained responders reached the hotel on skis. Many rescuers also used anything they could find to dig the victims out, including bare hands.
It was truly a tragic event, made more so as some reports claim there were at least three children under the age of nine buried somewhere within the hotel. A six-foot high mass of snow that was at least 300 yards wide carrying boulders and tree trunks destroyed the hotel Wednesday after traveling some 3,000 feet down a nearby peak, leaving rescuers frantically searching for survivors, at least two of which pinged authorities using a cell phone.
