Tragic Discovery of Chinese Backpackers in Flooded Queensland Vehicle
The bodies of two young Chinese backpackers have been found inside a 4WD submerged in floodwaters in Queensland, with their devastated families confirming their identities as Qingwei Qiu, 26, and Yuchen Guo, 23. The pair were travelling from Brisbane to the North Burnett region last week for farm work, but failed to arrive at their destination, prompting a missing persons report on Wednesday.
Last Known Movements and Search Operation
Their last phone signal was detected on Sunday night in Kilkivan, an area west of Gympie that has been severely impacted by heavy rain and flooding in recent days. This ping triggered a wide-scale ground and aerial search across the region, involving police and emergency services. On Thursday morning, authorities located a silver Subaru Forester submerged in floodwaters near Kilkivan, with the bodies of Qiu and Guo inside the vehicle.
Families Shattered by the Loss
In a heartbreaking statement to 7NEWS, Guo's father, Jianxiang Guo, expressed the profound grief of both families. 'Both of our families are shattered,' he said, revealing that his daughter had posted on social media on March 7 about the extreme weather conditions. 'She posted that the rain was extremely heavy and she could barely see the road. They must have had real guts to keep driving.' This comment highlights the dangerous circumstances the backpackers faced as they attempted to navigate through the treacherous floodwaters.
The tragedy underscores the risks associated with travel during severe weather events, particularly in remote areas like Queensland's North Burnett region. The incident has drawn attention to the importance of heeding weather warnings and avoiding non-essential journeys in flood-affected zones. Police continue to investigate the exact circumstances leading to the deaths, while the community mourns the loss of these young travellers.
