Motorists have been left stranded on Queensland’s Bruce Highway, stuck and pleading for help as heavy rain batters the region.
Floodwaters cut off the crucial highway near Proserpine, leaving more than 20 people trapped with я╗┐just one kilometre of dry road between them and raging water.
The motorists drove into the danger at nearby Goorganga Plains after a road closed sign was moved aside.
Melissa Young is one of the motorists who was caught off guard.
“Next thing I know, there is floodwater coming in my window,” she said.
“I do not believe I’ve ever, ever been that terrified in my life, ever.”
“I just about sent messages to my kids, you know, if I don’t get through this … I just want to get out.”я╗┐
Police have done food drops and told the group they should prepare to be there until Thursday depending on what the weather system does next.
One motorist has her two dogs with her while another driver is stuck with his six kids.
“We don’t have a lot of road left,” Young said.
“Once that water starts coming closer … we are freaking out now, everyone is freaking out now.”
The roads are a mess across the region from Townsville to Mackay and out to Emerald with catchments swollen from days of torrential downpours.
The Don River near Bowen has been lapping at the bridge on the Bruce Highway, which has been cut in several locations.
One man told 9News he has been on the road since about 8.30am.
я╗┐”I’m hoping we can get to Brisbane or close to Brisbane but there’s a few road blocks along the way,” he said.
One-hundred stranded travellers are spending the night at Bowen PCYC, sleeping on floors and eating donated food.
Holidaymakers became stranded too when the road between Airlie Beach and Proserpine was inundated late this afternoon.
The Whitsunday Coast Airport is closed with the region copping the brunt of the tropical low.
Jubilee Pocket received 392mm in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday.
In the past two days 482mm has fallen at Proserpine Airport and 420mm on Hamilton Island, which breaks the 48-hour rainfall records for both locations.
They have had more rain than during Cyclone Debbie.
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Steven Hadley said there was more rain on the way.
Pub goes underwater in WA outback flood disaster
“Locally some places may see as much as 400mm or 500mm,” Hadley said.
“Where that falls will be crucial in determining where we get the flash flooding and where we get the riverine flooding as well.”
Some were making the best of a bad situation.я╗┐
Spectators spotted a crocodile taking a dip at Wilson Beach in the Whitsundays in the wash-out from the Proserpine River.
я╗┐Meanwhile some Townsville residents replaced cars with tractors and kayaks as their preferred mode of transport.
Mackay residents not out of the woods
Residents in the city of Mackay are bracing for more wild weather.
Mayor Greg Williamson я╗┐said the region remained in the firing line, particularly for west of Mackay in the valley.
He said he has been advised 400mm to 500mm я╗┐of rain will fall in the area late on Monday night.
This will result in rising floodwaters in the Pioneer River and it is expected to reach the major flood levels out west.я╗┐
In Mackay there is expected to be aя╗┐ moderate flood level.
However there is the risk of a 7am я╗┐high tide coupled with a heavy downpour, posing a risk to locals in the area.
Residents have already been caught up in the flooding danger.
Four residents were rescued from a car at Sugarloaf in Airlie Beach and all of them escaped without injury.
