Queensland man dies in creek after 439.4mm of rain falls in four days
Emergency crews rescued six campers stranded in the Southern Downs as flood warnings persist across the state's south and east.
By Samir Doyle ·
A man was found unresponsive in Smothering Creek on Boompa Road near Boompa on the Fraser Coast. Emergency services responded to the scene shortly after 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 26. Queensland police declared him dead at the location. An investigation into the circumstances of his death has begun, and officials are preparing a report for the coroner.
In the Southern Downs region, floodwaters left six people stranded at a public campground in Leyburn. Queensland Fire and Rescue Swiftwater crews received the call for assistance at 7:45 a.m. on Monday. By 11:15 a.m., the team had safely recovered the group. The rescued individuals included three men, aged 71, 47, and 26, and two women, aged 68 and 26. Police reported that no one sustained physical injuries during the extraction.
The state experienced persistent heavy rain from Thursday through Monday. These storms caused flooding on numerous rivers and roads across the south and east of Queensland. On Monday, police reported flash flooding at Laidley Creek and Glenore Grove in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane. These conditions forced the closure of several local roads.
Meteorological records show the heaviest four-day rainfall totals occurred in several areas. Blackdown Tableland, located near Rockhampton, recorded 439.4mm of rain by early Monday. Lower Springbrook, near the Gold Coast, accumulated 325.2mm. Nambour, close to the Sunshine Coast, received 314.2mm, while Brooweena, inland of K'gari, recorded 299.6mm.
Angus Hines, a meteorologist, described the weather system as unusual. He noted that widespread rain bands, heavy cloud cover, and cooler temperatures drove the storms. Hines explained that these conditions were influenced by atmospheric activity in the upper levels. On Sunday evening, a fast-moving system linked thunderstorms from southern Queensland to Bass Strait. Strong high-altitude winds pushed the storm band eastward before the steering winds tapered off overnight over the Darling Downs.
Flood warnings remain active for Warrill Creek and the Bremer River in the Lockyer Valley. The Macintyre and Moonie rivers in the south, as well as the Mary River near the Sunshine Coast, also carry current warnings. In western Queensland, alerts are in place for the Warrego River at Charleville, the Bulloo River at Quilpie, and the Barcoo River at Blackall.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a return to typical spring conditions as the week progresses. Hot and humid days are expected to give way to more subdued afternoon showers and storms.
