Frantic search for avalanche survivors

FARINDOLA (AP):

Using saws, shovels and their gloved hands, rescue workers yesterday advanced slowly through the wreckage of an avalanche-destroyed hotel in central Italy, listening hard for any signs of more survivors among the 23 missing guests and hotel workers.

Falling snow reduced visibility and raised new fears that a fresh wall of snow could suddenly barrel down upon the emergency workers at the site in Italy's Apennines mountains.

Rescuers were working around the clock and said the risk of a new avalanche was very high.

By press time yesterday, nine survivors and five bodies had been pulled out of what was the Hotel Rigopiano, now a ruin under the weight of tons of snow that cascaded down the mountain late Wednesday afternoon.