Queenslanders have been warned to brace for ‘life-threatening’ floods as more than 300mm of rain lashed parts of the state in 24 hours and large areas of farmland were turned into an inland sea.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned of potentially dangerous flooding on Friday night brought on by severe thunderstorms in Logan and the Sunshine Coast.
The heaviest rainfall occurred near Logan City and Cleveland and further north towards the Sunshine Coast at Tin Can Bay, Inskip and Inskip Point.
Overnight 100 to 300mm of rainfall was recorded between Bundaberg and the NSW border stretching from the coast to as far west as Miles and Goondiwindi.
Rising floodwaters were seen in Toowoomba on Friday (pictured) as torrential rain lashed south-east Queensland
The heaviest rainfall was reported in Wide Bay and Burnett District after a deluge brought more than 300mm in 24 hours.
‘In the past 24 hours, widespread rainfall has occurred across the lower Brisbane River and tributaries, with totals of 100-300mm observed,’ the bureau said.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) issued an emergency alert for residents in Ipswich City Council just after midnight on Saturday.
‘Life-threatening flash flooding is occurring across the Ipswich Local Government Area,’ the QFES said.
‘Residents in low lying areas should prepare to leave and warn others. You need to stay informed by monitoring conditions as they are changing and do.’
A major flood warning has also been issued for the Sunshine Coast after increasing flood levels were recorded in the Mooloolah River.
Overnight 100 to 300mm of rainfall was recorded between Bundaberg and the NSW border stretching from the coast to as far west as Miles and Goondiwindi (pictured, flooding near Lismore in northern NSW on Friday)
Floodwater is pictured turning parts of Queensland into an inland sea. The heaviest rainfall was reported in Wide Bay and Burnett District after a deluge brought more than 300mm in 24 hours
The QFES warned flood levels may stay high for sometime due to intense rainfall and urged residents to stay clear of flooded roads.
Rescue crews have responded to almost 1,000 incidents across southern Queensland in the past 24 hours.
More than 40 swift-water rescues were conducted while volunteers work through a backlog of more than 950 request for assistance.
On Friday morning, shocking footage showed a car being swept down a river at Rocksberg, north-west of Brisbane after failed attempts by SES crews to remove it.
A Today Show journalist reporting live from the scene was forced to flee to higher ground as dangerous floodwaters quickly rose.
Nobody was inside the car as it floated down into a creek at Rocksberg, around an hour north-west of Brisbane early on Friday morning, after failed attempts by SES crews to remove it
‘The water’s coming, get the umbrella!’ crew members can be heard saying.
‘We are actually going to have to relocate right now because it’s coming up really rapidly here,’ the reporter told hosts back in the studio.
Queensland and New South Wales have been ravaged by wild weather this week with many communities devastated by floods.
Police found the body of a 54-year-old man whose motorcycle was found in floodwaters after he disappeared at Cedar Pocket near Gympie, two hours north of Brisbane early on Wednesday morning.
The area was flooded after it received over 300mm of rain in a six-hour period, with conditions described as ‘extremely horrific’ by a police spokesperson.
The QFES have reminded residents not to drive into floodwaters as severe thunderstorms bring on potentially life-threatening flash flooding (pictured, local flooding in Cooran on the Sunshine Coast)
The body of Philip Gary Lambert, 54, was found at about 11.30am on Thursday after his helmet and bag were spotted earlier in a tree.
Acting Inspector Paul Algie said Mr Lambert had attempted to ride his motorbike over Greens Creek at 1.30am on Wednesday after finishing work.
‘As a result of riding into floodwater he has come off his motorcycle and has been washed away,’ Insp Algie said on Thursday.
On Wednesday morning a 63-year-old Belli Park woman was found dead inside a submerged vehicle west of Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast.
NSW Police early on Friday confirmed the body of a 54-year-old man was found after his car became caught in flood waters in Matcham, on the Central Coast.
Officers found the Toyota Land Cruiser at around 1.30am on Friday with the driver inside.
Floodwaters have forced roads to close across south-east Queensland (pictured, a car attempts to leave their flooded property near Belli Creek, on the Sunshine Coast)
Just before 8am on Friday residents in the Sunshine Coast, Gympie, the Moreton Bay region, Noosa and Somerset were warned of a ‘very dangerous thunderstorm with intense rainfall that is likely to lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding’.
The same warning was given to Bundaberg.
Damaging wind and heavy rainfall warnings were also issued for Brisbane, Toowoomba, Maroochydore, Ipswich and other areas along Queensland’s east coast.
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