Police in Queensland believe two bodies discovered in a submerged vehicle are those of international tourists who went missing during severe flooding. The 26-year-old man and 23-year-old woman had been travelling from Brisbane to the North Burnett region but failed to arrive, prompting a search.
The vehicle was located on Kilkivan Tansey Road, west of Gympie, after a news crew from Seven Network spotted it while surveying the flood zone. Divers and forensic teams are investigating the scene, and police confirmed the bodies are believed to be the missing pair.
These are the first confirmed flood-related fatalities in the region, where communities continue to face inundation. The town of Chinchilla, north-west of Brisbane, is bracing for floodwaters from Charleys Creek, expected to peak at 6.8 metres on Thursday. Mayor Andrew Smith said residents hope it does not reach the devastating levels of 2011.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of major flooding approaching Longreach, with prolonged floods expected from Thursday evening. Senior meteorologist Jonathan How noted that while no further heavy rain is forecast, slow-moving river waters will impact downstream communities in the coming days.
As of Thursday morning, eight major flood warnings were in place across Queensland, including for Longreach, Windorah, Surat, and Warkon. In the Northern Territory and Western Australia, major flood warnings remain for the Daly River and Kimberley region, with heavy rain expected over the weekend.
