FARINDOLA, Italy—Rescue crews continued to dig by hand Friday through meters of snow and debris in the search for some 30 people trapped inside a remote Italian mountain resort flattened by a huge avalanche following a series of strong earthquakes.
Two bodies have been recovered, and Italian state media reported another two had been located in the snow, as hopes of finding survivors dimmed.
The search and rescue operation after Wednesday’s avalanche has been hampered by snow blocking the only road to the Hotel Rigopiano and fears of triggering a fresh avalanche.
A convoy of rescue vehicles made slow progress to the hotel, blocked by snow piled three meters (10 feet) high in some places, fallen trees and rocks. By late Thursday, only 25 vehicles had arrived, along with 135 rescue workers, and civil protection authorities said part of the night was spent trying to widen the road.
The first rescue teams had arrived on skis early Thursday, and firefighters were dropped in by helicopter. Snowmobiles were also being mobilized.
