Tragic find in search for tourists missing in flood
The bodies of two backpackers are believed to have been found after they went missing while travelling by car through a rain-hit region.
Source: Queensland Police
Police have found two bodies in their search for a pair of tourists missing in Queensland floodwaters.
The backpackers were travelling to Queensland’s flood-hit North Burnett region from Brisbane but failed to arrive at their destination, police said.
The disappearance of the 26-year-old man and 23-year-old woman sparked a search of the Kilkivan to Mundubbera area, where floodwaters had recently inundated communities.
Police, SES volunteers and helicopters scoured the region on Wednesday, later locating a silver Subaru Forester at Kilkivan Tansey Road.
On Thursday morning, Queensland Police said two bodies had been found inside the vehicle.
“Police divers, the Forensic Crash Unit and additional forensics will be attending the scene this morning to conduct further inquiries into the identities of the deceased,” they said.
“However, police believe the two deceased to be the missing 26-year-old man and 23-year-old woman.”
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Further details are expected later on Thursday.
The central Queensland city of Bundaberg has been hit with its third major flood in 16 years. Photo: AAP/McGrath Knight Frank Bundaberg
It came as police issued an emergency declaration further south-west at Chinchilla on the Western Downs after floodwaters inundated another community. An exclusion zone was set up in the town late on Wednesday, with authorities organising an evacuation area at the Chinchilla showgrounds.
At least 10 businesses were under water, sparking fears more homes would be lost to floodwaters.
The community north-west of Brisbane is next in line after Bundaberg was flooded on Wednesday, inundating hundreds of houses and businesses.
Chinchilla’s flooded Charleys Creek was expected to reach a 6.8-metre peak about midday on Thursday, local mayor Andrew Smith said.
Residents were clinging to hope that Charleys Creek, which runs through the town, would not reach the devastating flood levels of 2011. Back then, the waterway got to a record peak of 7.45 metres, flooding scores of homes and damaging the prized local watermelon industry.
“There are businesses that have been inundated at this point in time in those low-lying areas,” Smith said.
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“But if it does get to that 6.8-metre peak, we will expect it to be more widespread in the town itself.
“Nature can be tough at times, and certainly nature gets its way. We can’t do much about it.”
But the significant rain has offered a silver lining for some locals.
“The sorghum harvest in most areas is probably finished, and it will be a bit of a godsend to those wanting to plant a winter crop,” Smith said.
Door-knocking began in Chinchilla’s low-lying areas late on Wednesday, warning residents to evacuate.
Flooding is also expected across the Condamine River and Myall Creek catchments.
Other peaks have been reported, with major flooding forecast along the lower Condamine River in the coming days.
As Chinchilla braces, Bundaberg to the north is reeling from its third major flood in 16 years.
The Burnett River peaked at 7.4 metres, short of the predicted 7.6 metres.
But flooding forced hundreds to evacuate, cutting power for about 2500 people.
-with AAP
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