Italy is commemorating the fifth
anniversary of the Rigopiano avalanche disaster in Abruzzo that
claimed 29 lives on January 18, 2017.
The avalanche hit the hotel as 40 people, including guests and
staff, were inside, while the region was grappling with extreme
weather conditions and the resort was engulfed by snow.
Most of the 29 victims were instantly crushed to death. Eleven
people survived.
Rescuers reached the site several hours after the avalanche and
had to travel on foot because roads had been blocked by heavy
snow.
A torchlight procession is taking place at the site of the
disaster on Tuesday and ceremonies are also being held in the
towns of Montesilvano and Chieti.
The committee representing relatives of the victims said they
are still battling to "give justice to our angels and make sure
that what happened at Rigopiano never happens again".
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