Two young tourists who had travelled to Australia in search of farm work died after their car became trapped in floodwaters in Queensland.
Authorities said the two victims – a 26-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman from China – were driving from Brisbane to the North Burnett region, where they reportedly planned to take up jobs picking fruit, when they were caught in severe flooding.
When the pair failed to arrive, a friend reported them missing, triggering a large search operation involving police, emergency volunteers and helicopters in a flood-affected area between Kilkivan and Mundubbera, local police said.
“Their intention was to go to Mundubbera to do fruit-picking,” police minister Dan Purdie said on Thursday.
The search crews found a silver Subaru Forester submerged in floodwaters on the Kilkivan-Tansey Road, west of Gympie.
Police later confirmed that two bodies had been found inside. While formal identification was still underway, police said they suspected the victims were the missing tourists.
It appeared their vehicle had gone off a bridge and into swollen floodwaters, police said.
The deaths are believed to be the first directly linked to the floods sweeping parts of Queensland.
Local leaders described the news as heart-breaking, especially for the victims’ families who were now preparing to travel to Australia.
Authorities said they were working closely with the Chinese consulate to support them.
The mayor of Gympie, Glen Hartwig, said: “They are two young people who have sadly passed away. For their families who have to deal with this heartache, our thoughts and prayers go out to them.”
This comes as many communities across central Queensland continue to struggle with widespread flooding.
Floods caused by heavy rainfall have inundated homes, businesses and farmland, with some areas receiving as much as 400 millimetres of rain within a single day.
“Looking at the financial impact on farmers, it will be 12 months before they will take any money from these paddocks that have been destroyed,” Mr Hartwig said.
In Bundaberg, floodwaters from the Burnett river swallowed streets and forced residents to move to higher ground or evacuate.
Hundreds of properties had been affected, officials said, warning that the full extent of the damage might not be clear until the waters receded, 9News reported.
Other towns are also bracing for further impact. In Chinchilla, authorities declared an emergency zone as rising waters from Charleys Creek threatened nearby homes and businesses.
The truth about croc numbers in Australia after floodwater sightings
China positions itself as force for global stability at its annual Congress
Brent crude oil briefly tops $100 a barrel as Iran attacks on shipping worsen supply concerns
As war spikes gas prices, drivers wonder how long it will last – and if they should go electric
Two more Iranian footballers granted asylum in Australia before dramatic reversal
Dementia tops causes of death in Australia as experts call for ‘shift in thinking’
