The search for Franco Demelas, the 69-year-old Samugheo man who left his home by car on Sunday morning, is still unsuccessful. As the hours pass, concern grows throughout the community for the pensioner's fate.
The story
His wife, brother, and other relatives raised the alarm on Sunday afternoon when they didn't see him return. They immediately notified the Carabinieri station, who attempted to reconstruct the last movements of the elderly man, who had worked away from home for many years. According to an initial reconstruction, it appears there had been an argument at the house on Via San Basilio on Sunday morning. After some tension, Franco Demelas apparently left the house without even taking his cell phone, got into his gray Hyundai Kona, and drove away from the village.
The alarm
The search began late Sunday evening. Firefighters and Carabinieri officers, along with countless acquaintances and volunteers, are combing the surrounding countryside, searching for at least some trace of Demelas's car. The search, coordinated by the Oristano Prefecture, has continued with fire department dog units, a helicopter, and even drones. An advanced rescue station has also been set up in the Town Hall square, but so far all attempts have been unsuccessful. The 69-year-old man remains missing, and his family and the entire community are experiencing hours of anguish.
"We are all very worried about our fellow citizen," Mayor Basilio Patta commented. "We hope he is well and returns home soon."