Queensland man dead in creek, six campers saved as rain breaks local records
A four-day storm system dumped over 400mm of rain in parts of the state, leaving six campers stranded and closing roads.
By Daniel Kim ·
Queensland police confirmed the death of a man found unresponsive in Smothering Creek on Monday. Emergency services received the call shortly after 11 a.m. at Boompa on the Fraser Coast. The man was located on Boompa Road, and police declared him dead at the scene. An investigation is underway, and officials are preparing a report for the coroner.
Further south in the Southern Downs region, floodwaters left six campers stranded at a public campground in Leyburn. Queensland Fire and Rescue Swiftwater crews arrived at 7:45 a.m. on Monday. By 11:15 a.m., the team had moved three men, aged 71, 47, and 26, and two women, aged 68 and 26, to safety. Police reported that no one suffered physical injuries during the rescue.
The state experienced torrential rain from Thursday through Monday. The weather system flooded rivers and roads across the south and east of Queensland. On Monday, flash flooding at Laidley Creek and Glenore Grove in the Lockyer Valley forced the closure of several roads near Brisbane. Flood warnings remain active for multiple waterways in the state.
Rainfall totals over the four-day period broke local records in several locations. Blackdown Tableland near Rockhampton recorded 439.4mm of rain. Lower Springbrook near the Gold Coast received 325.2mm, while Nambour near the Sunshine Coast recorded 314.2mm. Brooweena, located inland of K'gari, logged 299.6mm.
Meteorologist Angus Hines described the weather pattern as unusual. He noted that widespread rain bands and cooler temperatures were driven by activity in the upper atmosphere. On Sunday evening, thunderstorms stretched from southern Queensland to Bass Strait. A fast-moving system pushed these storms toward the east coast. Hines said the steering wind tapered off overnight over the Darling Downs.
Current flood warnings cover Warrill Creek and the Bremer River in the Lockyer Valley. The Macintyre and Moonie rivers in the south also have active warnings, as does the Mary River near the Sunshine Coast. Western Queensland remains on alert for the Warrego River at Charleville, the Bulloo River at Quilpie, and the Barcoo River at Blackall.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects conditions to shift toward typical spring patterns later this week. Hot and humid days are forecast to transition into subdued afternoon showers and storms as the unusual system moves out.
Source: The Guardian
