Despite worsening weather conditions, rescue teams in central Italy say they haven’t given up hope of finding more survivors from a hotel which was completely buried by an avalanche. <br /><br /> So far five people have been confirmed dead, and 11 pulled out alive. <br /><br /> But the number of missing has risen to 24, up by one. <br />A hotel employee of Senegalese origin, is now thought to have been inside the luxury resort when the avalanche hit. <br /><br /> Officials believe there may still be spaces and air pockets inside the crushed hotel. <br /><br /> Italian Army spokesman Major Marco Amoriello said:<br />“The situation is still complex, because the weather conditions as you can see are still difficult, there is a joint and important effort, there are many people here working, the army is in the area with three teams that are alternating without a break. We are digging non-stop to try to find the people as quickly as possible who are still missing.’‘<br /><br /> While the frantic search to find more people alive remains a race against the clock, Italian media say nine of the survivors, who are being treated in hospital, will be discharged on Monday.<br />
