Rigopiano Hotel avalanche: Puppies raise rescuers' hopes in Italy

The discovery of the puppies boosted the spirits of emergency workers

Three puppies have been rescued alive from the ruins of a mountain hotel in Abruzzo, central Italy, which was engulfed by an avalanche five days ago.

The number of confirmed deaths has risen to seven, with 22 people still missing, but there are hopes people may have survived in air pockets. Nine people were brought out alive while two were found outside the hotel.

Rescuers using shovels and saws are considering whether to start using heavy equipment on the buried ruins.


Details have emerged of the situation at the hotel just before the avalanche. The manager, Bruno Di Tommaso, told officials in an email shortly before the disaster on Wednesday that his guests were terrified by multiple earthquakes that day, and were prevented from leaving by snowdrifts.

However, there was no mention of a potential avalanche. Italian officials have since confirmed that the area was not considered to be at risk of such an event.

The local authorities say a snowplough was due to begin work on the road to the hotel on Wednesday evening but the avalanche struck in the late afternoon.

Meanwhile, preparations are being made to bury some of the victims. In a church in the nearby town of Farindola, people could be seen paying their respects at the coffin of Alessandro Giancaterino, who worked as a waiter at the hotel.