Avalanche buries Italian hotel

The Hotel Rigopiano in the town of Farindola is shown Thursday ripped from its foundation and almost completely covered by a wall of snow and debris, triggered by a series of earthquakes that shook the region Wednesday. The resort hotel held 30 guests and staff members at the time of the avalanche. Three bodies were recovered, but hopes of finding survivors were hampered by the agonizingly slow process of getting heavy equipment to the scene.

ITALIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT, AP