In pictures: Guests feared dead after avalanche buries mountain hotel in earthquake-hit Italy

·Contributor

19 January 2017 at 11:09 am

More than 30 people are feared dead after a huge avalanche buried a mountainside hotel in the central Italian region of Abruzzo.

It’s believed that the avalanche submerged the whole of four-star spa resort Hotel Rigopiano in the late hours of Wednesday night – before mountain rescue teams eventually reached the hotel at 4am local time.

In the aftermath of the devastating incident, photos have shown the desperate efforts of rescue teams as they search for survivors.

Other stirring images show the destruction toll – with huge swathes of snow engulfing the hotel.

Rescuers desperately attempt to reach survivors (Picture: Reuters)

Rescue teams arrived by skis at roughly 4am local time (Picture: Reuters)

A helicopter arrives at the scene in a bid to find survivors (Picture: Reuters)

Huge destruction is shown to the interior of the hotel (Picture: Reuters)

Harrowing images show how the snow has smashed its way through the hotel corridors (Picture: Reuters)

An aerial shot of Hotel Rigopiano shows it buried under the snow (Picture: Reuters)

An aerial view paints a strong picture of the devastation

A survivor looks out at the aftermath of the avalanche from her balcony (Picture: Reuters)

A snow plough attempts to deal with the aftermath of the avalanche (Picture: Reuters)

Huge walls of snow surround the rounds around the hotel (Picture: Reuters)

A local resident attempts to clear her drive in the aftermath of the avalanche (Picture: Reuters)

A helicopter departs the scene (Picture: AP)

A helicopter surrounds the scene (Picture: Reuters)

An aerial view shows the snow-swamped region (Picture: Reuters)

Locals are seen trudging through the snow as they attempt to help (Picture: Reuters)

More than 30 people are feared dead after a huge avalanche buried a mountainside hotel in the central Italian region of Abruzzo.

In the aftermath of the devastating incident, photos have shown the desperate efforts of rescue teams as they search for survivors.

Other stirring images show the destruction toll – with huge swathes of snow engulfing the hotel.