Three friends were tragically caught hugging just before they were swept away by a deadly flash flood in northern Italy.
The human cost of the recent extreme weather that has hit the area is highlighted in this poignant scene.
Extreme weather and ubiquitous flash floods
Catastrophic flash floods have occurred in areas of northern Italy as a result of storms and excessive rainfall. Rescue teams were dispatched en masse to pull people out of flooded homes using boats. Among the heavily devastated cities are Vicenza and Padua. The governor of the Veneto region compared the current weather to a “water bomb”.
Professional Climate Change Alert
Spokesman Marco Marani gave an interview to Corriere del Veneto. He warned that the frequency of these extreme weather events is increasing. It is also expected to grow in tandem with accelerating global warming. His remarks highlight how critical it is to address climate change to mitigate the effects of increasingly frequent disasters such as flash floods.
A steep walk that resulted in a tragic find
On Friday 31 May, Patrizia Cormos (20), her boyfriend Cristian Molnar (25), and friend Bianca Doros (23) went for a walk along the river Natisone near Udine in the northern Friuli region. Days of continuous rain had caused the river to swell dangerously unbeknownst to them.
The water rose rapidly as they sought higher ground on a small island in the river. A terrifying video from the scene showed the trio clutching each other as floodwaters rose and trapped them. Udine Provincial Fire Chief Giorgio Basile gave a devastating account of the rescue efforts. “We threw them a rope, but right in front of our eyes, the floodwaters washed them away. We watched them disappear.”
Reconstruction work after a flash flood
The bodies of Ms. Cormos and Ms. Doros were found on Sunday, June 2, about 0.6 miles from their last known location. We are still looking for Mr. Molnár. After the flash flood, firefighters and other officials made a coordinated effort to find him using boats, divers, and drones.
Investigation and response to emergencies
Friday’s emergency call for help came in at approximately 1:35 p.m. Firefighters appeared quickly.
They tried to swing the rope and told their friends to stay together, but the strong current swept them away before help could arrive. Basile highlighted the dangerous conditions on the river. “The main element is the power of the river, not so much the rain,” he explained. Extremely strong currents.
It’s a particularly dangerous task, even for specialists, because there are gorges and standing water.”
