Survival stories are emerging from the flash flooding and torrential downpours that wreaked havoc on the Sunshine Coast and Gympie region, with people and animals scrambling for higher ground, sewage spilling onto a beach, and pollution fears after a train derailment.
Meanwhile, Queensland's wet weather continues with more than 400 millimetres of rain falling in three hours across the south-east of the state.
The deadly deluge claimed two lives as hundreds of millimetres of rain fell across the region since Tuesday night, and more severe weather is forecast for today.
Eumundi local Pip Inglis said the water rose from ankle to waist-deep within minutes early Wednesday morning, but she escaped the rising floodwaters to make it to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) where her 14-year-old son was having surgery.
She later learnt their property had gone "completely under" with two teenage children stuck inside.
"I'm stuck here [at SCUH]. My kids are stuck in the house. My husband stuck at work. He can't get there either. Like, we're all stuck," she said.
The waters have since receded, but Ms Inglis was unsure of what to do next.
Sewage, diesel spill
Clean-ups are also underway at both ends of the region with sewage spilling onto a beach on the southern end of the coast and a diesel spill from a freight train in the north.
Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) closed Dicky Beach near Caloundra on Wednesday due to what it described as "debris pollution" in the water.
In a statement to the ABC, the SLSQ confirmed the pollution was sewage.
UnityWater said due to the extreme weather on Wednesday, a manhole on Beerburrum Street overflowed and "the overflow ran into a creek that connects to the ocean".
"Wet weather overflows are highly diluted and are 99 per cent water," the service's Rhett Duncan said.
He said the area would not reopen to recreational activities until it was deemed safe.
Meanwhile, authorities are assessing the extent of a diesel spill after a freight train derailed during torrential rain on Tuesday night at Traveston, south of Gympie.
The area is still impacted by flooding.
"We're working closely with the owner of the train, Aurizon, to understand the extent of any diesel spill from the derailed locomotives," Queensland Rail's acting CEO Scott Riedel said.
Mr Riedel said recovery plans were still being developed, but containment booms had been put in place.
"As access allows, further clean-up action will progress as required," he said.
Urgent relocation of rescue animals
At Palmview, more than 75 animals were moved to higher ground at the Happily Heifer After Sanctuary where 80 per cent of the property was flooded.
"It's just not something that we have seen on this property, or the owner of the property has seen in I think 40 years," the organisation's Michelle Dranfield said.
Ms Dranfield said while it was a relief to have the animals safe, relocating them was challenging.
"[The pigs are] quite stressed right now because they're in a different environment … a much smaller enclosure," she said.
Ms Dranfield said other animals including donkeys, horses, goats, and sheep were not used to having wet feet and prolonged exposure could lead to bacterial infections.
But their biggest worry is feeding the herd after losing almost $1,000 worth of hay when the shed flooded.
'Special' community spirit
Kin Kin locals have rallied to help the town's pub, one of the oldest buildings in the Noosa Shire.
Longtime resident Nick Thompson said when word got around that "they had a bit of water already coming into the building" it was all hands on deck.
"The reason is actually the pub is at the very bottom of the main street in the little town centre of Kin Kin.
"There's a bit of a choke point there where two creeks come together, and a couple of bridges, so we get really fast run-off … which is right outside the pub."
The pub was sold to new owners in July last year and is undergoing extensive renovations.
"We were just trying to move all the furniture and stuff up onto higher ground in case things got any worse," Mr Thompson said.
Paul Baker has lived in Cooran, near Noosa, for 20 years and said the flooding this week was the worst he had ever seen.
"The speed at which it dropped was the most disturbing thing," he said.
Mr Baker said despite the "traumatic" event, it was heartening to see the community rallying together.
"There was this rogue cow that got out of its paddock and there was a couple of locals, one on a motorcycle and one clanging pots, trying to cajole this recalcitrant cow back to his paddock," he said.
"It was quite a saga. It's that sort of stuff that gets you through times like this."
He said residents were taking to social media to keep each other updated, and even helping out at the local store from 6am.
"The Cooran General Store, which is also the post office and the newsagency, they had a fair bit of water come through the roof," Mr Baker said.
"It just reminds you what we have in the Sunshine Coast hinterland is pretty special."
