Three puppies have been rescued from the hotel in central Italy that was struck by an avalanche last week.

"They just started barking very softly," said a member of the Forestry Corps, Sonia Marini, after they were found in the hotel's boiler room.

"In fact, it was hard to find them right away because they were hidden," she added.

"Then we heard this very tiny bark and we saw them from a little hole the firefighters had opened in the wall. Then we expanded the hole and we pulled them out."

Children buried by avalanche pulled to safety

The puppies had been featured on the hotel's Facebook page after being born to resident sheepdogs Nuvola and Lupo last month.


Their parents had made their own way to safety after the avalanche struck following an earthquake.

The discovery does not necessarily mean that more people will also be found alive under the snow and rubble.

Fire service spokesman Luca Cari said: "We're happy to have saved them, and these are important moments in a dramatic situation.

"But I don't think there's much correlation with finding other people."

Footage from inside hotel hit by an avalanche

However, Mr Cari also commented: "We are working on the theory that the avalanche did not necessarily hit or destroy every room and that we haven't yet reached the heart of the structure."

Rescuers at the site northeast of Rome continue to dig by hand, and with shovels and chainsaws, as they look for anyone who may have found an air pocket in the ruins.

A seventh body has been discovered, while 22 people remain missing in worsening conditions, with heavy snow turning into ice.