The stories coming out of the Italian mountain region of Abruzzo this week are nothing short of terrifying, where an avalanche buried Hotel Rigopiano in the town of Farindola. A six-foot high mass of snow that was at least 300 yards wide carrying boulders and tree trunks reportedly started by a series of earthquakes destroyed the hotel Wednesday. Estimates on the death toll have ranged widely but one report today said the slide killed at least 25 and four remain missing northeast of Rome. In one miracle though, the four children staying at the hotel were all accounted for.
The stories of survival are harrowing as one couple, along with a mother and her child, spent 58 hours buried beneath the snow in an air pocket that acted as an igloo to keep them warm during the nearly three days they were trapped.
Then there’s these three adorable Abruzzo pups (or Maremma Sheepdogs), that were buried for five days in the hotel’s boiler room. They were reportedly reunited with their parents, leaving a few slivers of hope in finding other survivors amongst the tragic carnage.
