The bodies of two Chinese backpackers have been found during a desperate search in flood-ravaged Queensland, as the region grapples with a widening flood crisis that has prompted evacuations and warnings. The pair, a 26-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, were travelling from Brisbane to North Burnett for farm work and were last heard from on Sunday night.
Search Ends in Tragedy
Police and State Emergency Service (SES) crews launched a widescale search after the backpackers were reported missing on Wednesday when they failed to arrive at their destination. Their last known phone signal pinged at Kilkivan, west of Gympie, an area inundated with heavy rain and flooding in recent days. The search later located their Silver Subaru Forester submerged in floodwaters near Kilkivan.
On Thursday morning, police announced that two bodies were found inside the 4WD vehicle. The discovery marks a tragic end to the search for the young travellers, highlighting the severe dangers posed by the ongoing flood conditions in Central Queensland.
Flood Crisis Widens Across Queensland
The incident comes as the flood crisis in Central Queensland expands, with authorities issuing urgent warnings and implementing emergency measures. Police have declared a Public Safety Preservation Act for Chinchilla due to the danger from rising floodwaters, leading to evacuations and the opening of a shelter at Chinchilla Showgrounds.
Western Downs Mayor Andrew Smith reported that the region received 260mm of rain in just 48 hours. He noted that while predictions for water levels are lower than the devastating floods of 2010/2011, the impacts remain significant. "We always have to remember that a prediction is just a prediction," Smith cautioned, underscoring the unpredictability of the situation.
Regional Leaders on High Alert
Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams stated that his council is monitoring upstream catchments as water moves downstream, with preparations in place for potential flooding over the coming week. Meanwhile, Bundaberg Regional Council mayor Helen Blackburn warned that recovery from flood damage "could take months," with hundreds of homes and properties impacted.
Blackburn explained that aerial surveillance by Polair is being used to assess the extent of the damage in isolated areas along the river. Although the Emergency Alert for Bundaberg was downgraded to Watch and Act on Wednesday night, residents were advised it is still unsafe to return to flooded zones. Approximately 2,000 homes around Bundaberg were without power on Wednesday, adding to the community's challenges.
Government Response and Community Resilience
Premier David Crisafulli urged communities to prepare for the worst, acknowledging that while fewer homes and businesses may be affected compared to past disasters, the impacts will be severe for those hit. "This community is resilient, it's tough, it bounces back from disasters as well as anywhere in the nation. That doesn't mean it should be left on its own," Crisafulli said, pledging government support for recovery efforts.
The tragic discovery of the backpackers underscores the lethal risks associated with the current flood conditions, as authorities continue to respond to the crisis with search operations, evacuations, and damage assessments across Queensland.
