The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Ten people found alive after hotel buried by 17ft of snow
Italy: Avalanche survivors emerge after sheltering in air pocket in kitchen
Rescue crews pulled survivors from the debris of an avalanche-crushed hotel in central Italy to cheers of “Bravo! Bravo!”, boosting spirits two days after a massive snow slide buried some 30 people.
Four children were among the 10 people found alive.
The news buoyed rescue workers who had already located four bodies in the rubble of the luxury Hotel Rigopiano, 112 miles north east of Rome, where the avalanche dumped 17 feet of snow on top of the resort.
“Today is a day of hope. There’s a miracle under way,” declared Ilario Lacchetta, mayor of the tiny town of Farindola, where the hotel is located.
Relatives of the missing rushed from the rescue operations centre in the mountains to the seaside hospital where the survivors were taken for treatment, hoping their loved ones were among the lucky few to be found.
First word of the discovery came at around 11am. Video released by rescuers showed a boy wearing blue snow trousers and a matching ski jacket emerging through a tunnel dug in the snow.
It was Gianfilippo Parete, the eight-year-old son of Giampiero Parete, a chef holidaying at the resort.
Next to emerge was his mother, Adriana Vranceanu, 43, wearing red snow trousers and appearing alert as she told rescuers that her six-year-old daughter, Ludovica, was still trapped inside. The girl was later rescued.
They were then reunited with Mr Parete at a hospital in the coastal town of Pescara, suffering hypothermia and dehydration but otherwise in good health, hospital officials said.
“They had heavy clothes,” said Dr Rossano di Luzio. “They had ski caps to cover themselves. They remained away from the snow and cold, they were always inside the structure. That’s why the hypothermia wasn’t severe.”
About 30 people were trapped inside the hotel in the Gran Sasso range – part of the central Italian Apennines mountain chain – when the avalanche hit on Wednesday after days of winter storms.
The region was also rocked by four earthquakes on Wednesday, though it was not clear if they set off the avalanche. As the rescue continued, relatives of the missing gathered anxiously at the Pescara hospital waiting for word of their loved ones.
Late yesterday, civil protection chief Fabrizio Cari said a total of 10 people had been found alive, five had been pulled out, including four children, and rescuers were working to remove the rest, he said.
“A beautiful feeling. Wonderful. I can’t describe it!” said Simona Di Carlo, aunt of Edoardo Di Carlo, after hearing word that he was among the survivors.