Nine persons rescued from Rigopiano hotel, 15 remain missing

Four people were rescued overnight from the Rigopiano hotel in Italy, bring the total number of rescued persons to nine. However, at least 15 people remain missing after an avalanche destroyed the hotel three days ago.

While one more survivor has yet to be rescued, Italian media said other voices may have been heard in the ruins during the night.

Five people have been confirmed dead.

The first five survivors were taken to safety on Friday, some 40 hours after the avalanche hit on Wednesday.

They had reportedly taken refuge beneath a collapsed portion of ceiling, where they were able to light a fire to keep warm for two days.

The rescue has been hampered by deep snow blocking an access road.

The first person pulled out on Friday was an eight-year-old boy, the son of a holidaymaker, Giampiero Parete, who had gone to his car when the avalanche struck and first sounded the alarm by calling his boss.

The boy's mother, Adriana, was pulled out next, telling rescue workers her six-year-old daughter was still trapped inside.

The little girl was also later saved and the family was reunited at a hospital in the coastal town of Pescara.

Hospital officials told the Associated Press news agency they had symptoms of hypothermia and dehydration, but were otherwise in good health.