Cormos, a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Udine, joined her friends for a drive to celebrate completing a significant exam, as reported by her devastated mother.

Reportedly, the trio parked their car near the river to explore a small beach and capture some photographs.

The mayor of the nearby town of Premariacco, Michele De Sabata, said the tragedy occurred in “only minutes.”

“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.

Recent severe storms have triggered a string of destructive flash floods across northern Italy, with the cities of Padua and Vicenza being particularly hard-hit, with Veneto’s governor comparing the extreme weather conditions to a “water bomb.”