Woman killed, dozens of teens rescued in flood chaos
A month’s worth of rain has hit some regions over 36 hours, with the wild weather leading to a fatal road crash and the rescue of stranded students at a camp.
A woman is dead, dozens of students have been rescued and roads cut after South East Queensland was drenched by a rare weather system, with more more rain on the way.
The 28-year-old died on the Pacific Motorway at Loganholme, south of Brisbane, after pulling over following a minor rear-end crash in afternoon peak hour traffic.
Two vehicles had stopped in the northbound lanes to exchange details when she was hit by dual-cab utility as she walked back to her car on Monday, police said.
She suffered catastrophic head injuries and could not be revived. The ute driver is assisting police.
Premier David Crisafulli described the incident as “an incredibly tragic situation”.
“That is just a really sad and tragic set of circumstances,” he said on Tuesday.
“Our thoughts go with her family, everyone involved, including emergency services.”
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The deadly crash came as severe storms hammered Queensland’s southeast from Bribie Island to Coolangatta, triggering flash flooding and soaking the Gold Coast with up to 160mm of rain.
The State Emergency Service received 320 calls for help in 24 hours and there was a major rescue of nearly 50 high school students and teachers, who had to be rescued after becoming stranded by floodwater at Mount Barney in the Scenic Rim.
Forty eight students and teachers from North Lakes State College, who were on a school camp, had to be ferried by boat across a flooded road after they were cut off from their planned accommodation because of the weather conditions.
The downpour, which caused flash flooding, was the result of a northwest cloud band combining with a lingering coastal trough off the coast.
Stretching about 4000km from Darwin to east of Melbourne, it has caused the most widespread May rain in a decade.
More than 200mm of rain poured down on the Gold Coast Hinterland in just 24 hours, and Brisbane received widespread falls between 50mm to 70mm.
For many areas, the 24-hour deluge matched – or even exceeded – the May monthly average rainfall.
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The heaviest falls were recorded in Springbrook National Park (191mm).
On the coast, the Gold Coast Seaway recorded 119mm since 9am on Monday. The May average for that area is 105.3mm.
And the weather bureau is predicting another day of rolling showers in the south-east.
But senior meteorologist Sarah Scully told InDaily the falls were not expected to be as heavy as on previous days.
“That rain band will gradually move offshore this afternoon and into this evening,” she said.
“So the Gold Coast, for example, might only get another 10-20mm.
“But of course the ground are saturated so minor flood warnings are still in place.”
Residents have been urged to stay clear of swollen rivers and creeks and to monitor the latest warnings.
A marine wind warning is also currently in place for Gold Coast waters, and strong wind warnings are in place for South East Gulf of Carpentaria, Cooktown Coast, Cairns Coast, Townsville Coast and Mackay Coast.
The outlook clears up on Wednesday as most of Queensland bathes in sunshine.
Fine and sunny weather is forecast in central and northern parts of the state all week, with maximum temperatures in the mid-to-high 20s in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Mount Isa.
-with AAP
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