Avalanche in Italy Buries Hotel; 'At Least Three People Have Died'

Italian officials announced on Thursday, January 19, that after several strong earthquakes in the central regions of the country, a luxury mountain hotel was buried under an avalanche, and approximately 30 people are likely trapped inside. Reuters, citing Italian media, reported that by Thursday afternoon, the bodies of three victims had been found. However, rescue units declined to comment on this report but stated that they had not yet found any signs of life among those trapped under the snow. The severe avalanche on Wednesday evening buried the entire four-story building under snow, leaving only part of the roof and a row of windows on the upper floor exposed. Local officials said that at the time of the incident, about 30 people, including two children, were in the building. About 20 hours after the avalanche, only a few people, including two men who were outside the hotel at that moment, had survived. One member of the mountain rescue team at the scene told Reuters, 'The hotel building is completely destroyed. We have been calling the residents of the building, but so far we have heard no response. We continue the excavation and search operations to rescue these individuals.' This hotel is located in the high mountains of Gran Sasso in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. Television reports show that rescue units have been able to enter a part of the building that appears to be the hotel lobby. According to local media, several beds and hotel furniture have been found several meters away from the building. Search dogs have also joined the rescue operation to help find people who may still be alive. One person who survived the incident told rescue units, 'I survived because I had gone outside to get something from the car.' According to Italian media, his wife and two children are among those trapped under the rubble. Reuters adds that Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni emphasized national unity, stating that the country is facing an 'unprecedented disaster' of simultaneous earthquakes and heavy snowfall. The several meters of snow in the Gran Sasso mountains have made rescue operations difficult. Snow levels in some areas reach five meters, and clearing the narrow mountain roads is not easy. The first rescue team was able to reach the site around 4:30 AM on Thursday using skis. After dawn, helicopters were able to fly to the location. Local media reported that the four-star 'Rigopiano' hotel, with 43 rooms, is located at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level on the slope of a high hill. The severe avalanche occurred a few hours after four earthquakes with a magnitude above five struck central Italy, raising concerns among the public about avalanches. According to Italian media, the hotel residents intended to leave the building and were waiting for snowplows to clear the road between the hotel and the nearest village. However, before they could leave the hotel, a massive avalanche collapsed and buried the hotel under a mountain of snow.