Rescuers located six survivors in a ski hotel on Friday that was buried by an avalanche near an earthquake-hit city in Italy. 

"They are alive and we are talking to them," fire brigade spokesman Luca Cari told Reuters news agency by telephone, speaking from the scene.

As many as 30 people were reported missing after the avalanche destroyed the hotel in central Italy on Wednesday afternoon. So far two bodies have been found and Italian media said two other bodies had been located.

Rescue efforts have been ongoing amid challenging weather conditions.

Hotel Rigopiano is located in the town of Farindola on the Gran Sasso mountain in the province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region.

source: Al Jazeera