A luxury mountain hotel in Italy’s Abruzzo region has been destroyed by an avalanche that followed a series of strong earthquakes.

Most of the four-storey Hotel Rigopiano is buried beneath snow and debris.

(The National Alpine Cliff and Cave Rescue Corps)

At least 3 bodies have been discovered while more than 20 people remain trapped.

Two men who were outside at the time survived.

Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni is calling for national unity, saying the country was caught in an ”unprecedented vice” of tremors and heavy snow, which is hampering rescue efforts.

The disaster hit just hours after four quakes rocked central Italy, prompting fears of possible avalanches.

In fact, local media reports guests at the 43-room hotel had checked out and were waiting for a plow to arrive to open up the road so they could leave when the avalanche struck.