Strong earthquakes with a dead and three missing in snowy central Italy

A man was killed yesterday in a series of powerful earthquakes that occurred in central Italy, a region which had suffered major damage from major earthquakes last year, while heavy snowfall have raised fears for the lives of other people in the area.

Four earthquakes of 5.2 degrees and powerful occurred near the town Amatritse, about 100 km northeast of Rome, within four hours. Much of the area was abandoned after last year's earthquake.

The central regions of Lazio, Marche and Abruzzo experienced heavy snowfall, and a man about 82 years old was killed when the snow and one of the earthquakes brought collapsed the roof of an agricultural building, according to a spokesman for the fire department.

According to local media, three people missing since an avalanche fell into a hotel at the foot of Mount Gran Sasso, the wider city area Pescara. In total there were 20 people at the hotel, including the staff, said the president of the region.

Twenty firefighters, two mountaineering rescue crews, ambulances and six local police are on their way to the hotel, but the weather conditions make it difficult to access the hotel, according to a spokesman for the civil protection service.
There have been other reported deaths or injuries at the moment.

The Italian Prime Minister Paulo Tzentiloni said that the army would help rescue teams to reach affected villages. "This resumption of strong earthquakes are worrying about the world that has already been tested so far," said Tzentiloni Berlin.

A 30 year old woman and a 17 year old with symptoms of hypothermia were pulled alive from the rubble in the village of Castiglione Meser Raimondo said the fire department.
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Some areas do not have electricity due to snow, so no work or mobile, "said Santos Stragkoni, mayor of Akouasanta Terme, a town that killed 300 people on August 24 earthquake." The snow is two meters high in some areas " he said the TV channel SkyTG 24.

In Rome, they shook buildings and running the city subway stopped for several hours. Closed schools and museums have asked guests to leave.