December 31, 2024
Emergency services scrambled to help people stranded in floodwaters after a dangerous storm pelted Kingaroy and surrounding areas on Monday night.
SES volunteers were called to more than 60 incidents while fire crews attended at least seven vehicle strandings, including a dramatic rescue at Geritz Road, Taabinga.
The Bureau of Meteorology began issuing warnings about the impending storm about 4:20pm, but quickly escalated the storm cell alert to “very dangerous”.
About 5:30pm, the South Burnett Regional Council issued a “Watch and Act” warning for flash flooding, and the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) was activated.
Drivers were warned to limit travel but the storm and heavy rain struck so quickly, many people were caught unaware.
One of the most serious incidents occurred just before 6:00pm at Geritz Road, Taabinga.
Seven five crews were called to assist a person stuck in a vehicle on Geritz Road.
Two specialist swift-water firefighters were called in and deployed a 50m float rope to assist the stranded driver.
A QFD spokesperson said the firefighters waded out to assist the driver to safety and an awaiting ambulance crew.
Swift-water firefighters were also called into action at Memerambi-Barkers Creek Road at Wattle Camp just before 9:00pm.
The QFD spokesperson said a driver was stranded inside his vehicle when it broke down after driving through floodwater.
The firefighters waded out and helped the driver to safety.
They then checked other vehicles abandoned in the area between two flooded roads to make sure everyone was safe.
At Malar Crescent, emergency services were called about 7:00pm after water entered a house.
The occupant sat on a table until the water receded. The QFD spokesperson said the situation was closely monitored but the resident did not require a rescue.
Fire crews were also called to help people or to check abandoned vehicles at:
- D’Aguilar Highway, Coolabunia – Several vehicles were caught in floodwaters but the occupants were able to make their own way to safety.
- Haly and Kingaroy streets, Kingaroy – Firefighters helped a driver whose vehicle was cut off between two flooded sections of road.
- Avoca Street, Kingaroy – Two vehicles were stranded but the occupants made their own way out safely.
- Peterson Drive and Kingaroy-Cooyar Road at Goodger – Two people were helped by firefighters to get out of a stranded vehicle.
LDMG chair Cr Danita Potter urged residents to be patient.
She said Council had pulled out three stranded vehicles so far on Tuesday morning.
“We just have to do the best we can with what we have,” she said.
Transport and Main Roads inspectors were due to arrive early on Tuesday afternoon to begin bridge inspections to determine if they were safe to reopen.
“There is just so much work to be done,” Cr Potter said.
The official BOM weather station at Kingaroy Airport recorded more than 120mm of rain during the first two hours of the storm, with almost 150mm by late evening.
[UPDATED]
Previous council spent millions on the streetscape project, which should have included upgrading the storm water system.