Multiple survivors were rescued from the Hotel Rigopiano in central Italy Friday morning, the New York Times reports. At least 20 others remain missing.
The Hotel Rigopiano had been buried by an avalanche believed to have been triggered by a series of strong earthquakes in the region. Reports cited by the Times indicate that there were eight survivors rescued. However, according to The Local it, the number of survivors could be low as six, with local media still awaiting final confirmation by rescue officials. Rescue efforts have been hampered by heavy snowfall in the area.
According to the Los Angeles Times, about 30 people were trapped inside the hotel when the avalanche hit. Firefighting crews were in touch with survivors, and that helicopters were on the way to the area to aid in the evacuation.
The hotel is near the area hit by a series of earthquakes last summer that damaged several popular tourist towns, including Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto, and killed over 240 people. Several historic buildings were also destroyed in that disaster, as well as the Hotel Roma in Amatrice.
Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for further updates on this developing story.