Tragic End for Three Friends in Italy's Flash Floods

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In a heartbreaking incident in northern Italy, three young friends were captured in a final embrace before being swept away by sudden flash floods along the Natisone River. The victims, Patrizia Cormos, 20, Bianca Doros, 23, and Cristian Molnar, 25, were enjoying a stroll near Udine in the Friuli region when the river surged dangerously after days of torrential rain.

 

On that fateful Friday, the group walked to a small island in the middle of the river, unaware of the imminent danger. They were last seen alive standing thigh-deep in the swirling waters. A video taken at the scene, during rescue efforts, showed the trio hugging each other, trapped by the rising torrent and unable to reach the riverbank.

 

“We threw them a rope, but they were literally swallowed up by the flood waters in front of our eyes. We watched them disappear,” said Giorgio Basile, the chief of the provincial firefighters in Udine. The emotional account underscores the devastating power of nature and the helplessness felt by the rescuers.

 

Two bodies, believed to be those of Ms. Cormos and Ms. Doros, were found about a kilometer from where they were last seen, as the search continued for Mr. Molnar. The two women, both Romanian, and Molnar, also Romanian, were reported missing after the river’s swift currents carried them away despite rescue attempts.

 

The tragedy began with an emergency call made to police around 1:35 pm on Friday. Firefighters arrived swiftly at the scene and tried to throw a rope to the stranded friends from a nearby bridge. A firefighter urged them to stay together, but the powerful current was relentless. The search has involved drones, boats, and divers, combing the river since the incident. A handbag containing the mobile phone used to make the emergency call was recovered, providing a grim reminder of their last moments.

 

 

“The main element is not so much the rain, it is the power of the river, the very strong currents,” said Mr. Basile. “There are gorges, there is a backwash of water and even for the experts it is a particularly treacherous task.”

Ms. Cormos was a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Udine. She had asked her mother for permission to join her friends for a drive after finishing an exam. Ms. Doros, who was studying economics in Bucharest, had recently arrived in Udine to visit her parents, while her boyfriend, Mr. Molnar, had traveled from Austria.

 

The families of the victims had not made any public comment by late Sunday. However, Ms. Cormos’ mother was quoted by the Italian daily, Corriere della Sera, expressing her regret and sorrow. “I had told her not to go, because she was tired,” her mother reportedly said, in tears. “But she said, ‘We are just going to hang out for a bit and take some photos. Come on mum, don’t be angry’.”

 

Michele De Sabata, the mayor of Premariacco, a nearby town, expressed his condolences and sympathy on behalf of the community. “They found themselves in an unpredictable situation. Those who live in Premariacco know the river and how conditions can change quickly. The three kids arrived when it was sunny. They could not have known what was about to happen. It only took minutes,” he said.

 

The incident is part of a larger pattern of heavy floods causing widespread chaos across northern Italy in recent weeks, affecting areas such as Milan, Varese, and Cremona. Violent storms struck the Friuli and Veneto regions in mid-May, and more rain is forecast for the northern part of Italy.

 

As the community mourns this tragic loss, the events serve as a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictable and often deadly force. The families and friends of Patrizia Cormos, Bianca Doros, and Cristian Molnar are left to grapple with their grief, while the search for Mr. Molnar continues in hopes of bringing closure to his loved ones.

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-06-03

 

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