30 FEARED DEAD AS AVALANCHE HITS HOTEL RIGOPIANO IN ITALY

Abruzzo, Italy – At least 30 people are deared dead at Hotel Rigopiano, a luxury hotel in Italy, which was hit by severe avanche. The avalanche according to local media was triggered by series of earthquakes which hit the area, followed by overnight tremors.

Rescuers said at least 20 tourists and seven staff and children were inside at the time the adcident occured. “There are many deaths,” Antonio Crocetta, the head of a mountain rescue team, was quoted as saying earlier this morning.

Italian media reported that some guests at the hotel had been able to send text messages after they were trapped.




Rescuers who arrived Hotel Rigopiano by helicopters battled overnight in the cold to save many belleived to have been buried in the rubble as heavy snow comtinued to hinder operation. At least three people have been rescued while one was recovered dead.”Help, we’re dying of cold,” Ansa news agency quoted one couple as saying.

Giampiero Parete who narrowly survived the incident said he went to get something from his car when the avalanche hit the hotel.

“I was covered by the snow but I managed to get out. The car was not submerged and I waited for the rescuers to arrive,” he said.