Three boys overwhelmed by the flood of the river: the embrace while the water rises, the rope stretched by the firefighters, then nothing

A boy and two girls are missing in Friuli, overwhelmed by the flood of the Natisone river.

The young people were on a small island in the municipality of Premariacco (Udine) when the water began to rise rapidly due to the torrential rains that hit the area in the last few hours.

They are between 17 and 25 years old , according to initial information. They raised an alarm on the phone. Perhaps they did not suspect the danger and the water began to rise very quickly, until it dragged them away.

In the photos and videos released, the three are seen embracing, perhaps to defend themselves . There was nothing that could be done, that hug couldn't hold up in the face of the violence of the water that dragged them away.

A passer-by who was passing on the Roman bridge heard the desperate screams of the boys and raised the alarm to the firefighters. The firefighters, a few dozen meters above the ground, placed a mobile crane and extended a ladder, throwing ropes to the boys so that they could hold on. But right before their eyes the current dragged them away , without anyone being able to hold on.

The search began from there: the Udine firefighters were involved with ground teams, river rescuers and helicopters. The 118 helicopter and Alpine Rescue technicians were also present, while other teams of firefighters and divers arrived from Venice. The helicopters then returned to their respective bases: the searches, not facilitated by the weather, continue with other means and "will continue tonight and as long as necessary in the next few days", assures coordinator of activities for the fire brigade Andrea D 'Odorico. «Bad weather is also expected in the next few hours. The Natisone river is in flood, has a very strong current, is torrential in nature and has many bends, in which the missing could have been stuck ", he explains.

The point where the three young people were surprised by the flood is surrounded by thick vegetation. On the sides there are mostly cultivated fields, some houses and a road that for some stretches runs parallel to the river bed, until it reaches a bridge that connects one bank to the other. Near the place where the episode occurred there is a car with a Romanian license plate. And the boys, who are assumed to be three Romanians living in Friuli, could have arrived with that vehicle .

(Unioneonline/L)