Italy avalanche: Hotel director called for help hours before disaster

by Dramelin 3:30 PM 0 comments 14 15 avalanche called dead director disaster help hotel hours italy reports rigopiano toll

Story highlights Reports: Prosecutors launch probe after hotel director asked authorities to interveneDeath toll at Rigopiano Hotel reaches 14 dead, with 15 people still missing(CNN) With 14 people now dead after an avalanche wrecked an Italian hotel, news reports emerged that its director urgently called for assistance just hours before disaster struck last week. In an email to local officials, the director said guests at the Rigopiano Hotel were "terrified," roads were blocked due to heavy snow and phones were out of service. The recovery brought the death toll to 14, according to Italy`s national fire brigade, with 15 still missing. Prosecutors investigating the disaster are now examining his call for help. The Reuters news agency reported Tuesday that rescuers recovered five bodies -- three men and two women -- hours before the first funerals for those killed were due to be held.