One dead and a teenager still missing as a powerful new cyclone causes deadly delueg in Queensland
A man has died and a teenage girl still missing as a deadly deluge triggered by a powerful new cyclone continues to batter large parts of Queensland.
The 22-year-old man from the Sunshine Coast died after his ute was tragically swept into floodwaters at Kanigan in Gympie, north of Brisbane, on Friday night.
While rescue crews recovered his body some 16 hours later the whereabouts of a 14-year-old girl still remain unknown after a Toyota Camry was swept into floodwaters.
A man has died and a teenage girl still missing as a deadly deluge triggered by a powerful new cyclone continues to batter large parts of Queensland (pictured, floodwaters near Goomeri)
While rescue crews recovered the body of a man, 22, 16 hours after his ute was swept into floodwaters later the whereabouts of a 14-year-old girl still remain unknown (pictured, floodwaters around Goomeri, northwest of Brisbane)
The girl and a 40-year-old man were able to escape from the vehicle however, a desperate search has ensued for the missing teenager.
The man, who was found by first responders clinging to a tree, was taken to Bundaberg Hospital in a stable condition.
Rescuers were forced to suspend the rescue operation late on Saturday night after wild conditions hindered their efforts.
Residents have been warned to brace themselves for wild winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms triggered by Cyclone Tiffany.
The weather system dumped a ‘surprise’ 673mm of rain in just 24 hours on Marodian, a community northwest of Gympie on the Fraser Coast, the Courier Mail reports.
Meteorologists were shocked to observe the thunderstorm cell bearing down on the area and delivering relentless rain from Friday night into Saturday morning.
Residents have been warned to brace themselves for wild winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms triggered by Cyclone Tiffany (pictured, damage to the Bruce Highway)
The weather system dumped a ‘surprise’ 673mm of rain in just 24 hours on Marodian, northwest of Gympie on the Fraser Coast (pictured, a Queensland rainfall chart)
Most parts of the state were battered with continuous rain over 12 hours from Friday into the early hours of Saturday morning.
Mt Kanigan recorded 142mm of rain in just an hour to 11:30pm on Friday night while Mt Seaview was lashed with 51mm in the 45 minutes to 8.09pm on Saturday.
The deluge is expected to continue to thunder down on the Mary River region northwest of Gympie in a final blow from ex-tropical cyclone Seth.
The weather system landed on the Fraser Coast and moved inland triggering major flood warnings for the Mary River at Tiaro and Miva.
Clayton’s Towing continued operations early on Saturday morning and posted to social media the heavy rain had cut multiple major roads.
‘The highway north of Gympie, between Curra and Tiaro is closed. Flooding, major road damage in Gootchie Creek Area, vehicles have been washed off roads, properties flooded. Avoid this area, Gympie north is copping massive rain falls,’ the post read.
‘Wide Bay Highway closed, Burnett Highway Tansy, Ban Ban Springs areas are also flooded and closed.
‘Highway at Apple Tree Creek is also flooding now.’
Parts of the Bruce Highway at Curra and Booyal have been damaged and sunk underwater forcing its closure at Tiaro at 7am on Sunday morning.
The Burnett, Carnarvon, Castlereagh and Leichhardt highways are also among the 80 roads closed due to devastating floodwaters.
Clayton’s Towing continued operations early on Saturday morning and posted to social media the heavy rain had cut multiple roads (pictured, damage to the Bruce Highway)
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said between 9am on Friday and 2:30pm on Saturday, 38 water rescues were performed (pictured, overflow at Gutchy Creek)
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services revealed that between 9am on Friday and 2:30pm on Saturday, 38 water rescues were performed across the state.
During the same period, the service received more than 140 requests for SES assistance from residents in flood-affected areas near Gympie and Maryborough.
At 6pm on Saturday night, the QFE tweeted to residents in Far North Queensland to prepare for potential heavy rain, strong winds and localised flooding.
‘Bring inside loose outdoor items and secure items that can’t be moved. Ensure your emergency kit is well stocked and you have prepared a Covid-Ready Kit,’ it read.
Wide Bay and Burnett residents have been ordered to stay at home unless travel was absolutely necessary due to the dangerous weather conditions.
The 670mm deluge experienced by the community of Marodian on Saturday night, was the most severe recorded in living memory.
The Gympie Regional Council on Saturday morning issued an emergency alert for all residents in its local government area warning of possible major flooding.
The 670mm deluge experienced by the community of Marodian on Saturday night, was the most severe recorded in living memory (pictured, a resident measures water on her property)
Major flood warnings are still in place for Maryborough, Miva and Tiaro this morning while a moderate flood peak is expected at Gympie.
Showers were seen to subside on Saturday afternoon but not before they had delivered 650mm at Mt Kanigan, 523mm at Glenwood and 464mm at Brooyar.
Meteorologist predict ex-tropical cyclone Seth will fade and move inland on Monday or Tuesday, however warn the worst may not be over yet.
Modelling suggests a high chance of a cyclone forming in the Coral Sea by Tuesday, with a tropical low developing east of Cape York Peninsula early on Sunday.
A cyclone watch has been established for the weather system that will be named Tiffany and will likely to be labelled a category one cyclone.
While the cyclone may bring heavy winds and rain, it is expected to pass through Queensland away from densely-populated areas.
While residents in Cairns and the further south could be affected, the southeast will finally receive some reprieve from wild weather caused by ex-tropical cyclone Seth.
