Emergency services, including the State Emergency Service, have been actively responding to around 150 water-related incidents across Brisbane, Ipswich, and the Sunshine Coast, resulting in numerous lives being preserved amid severe flooding.
One notable rescue occurred in Chevallum, where a man found himself on the roof of his ute after an extraordinary 400 millimetres of rain fell within just 12 hours. His daughter received a frantic call from him as the floodwaters rose and the vehicle began to fill with water, prompting her to alert the authorities for assistance. “I was scared. He needed help,” she recounted. Rescue crews located him through a drone and, after securing ropes, safely brought him to shore using an inflatable raft.
In a nearby area, another individual faced similar danger due to the rising waters. Similarly, an elderly couple and their dog were saved by rescuers in Yatala after attempting to navigate a flooded road. They shared their ordeal, explaining that they had to climb onto their vehicle’s roof as the water levels became perilously high.
Additionally, off Bribie Island, Marine Rescue teams responded to a sailor and his two dogs in a boat that was in jeopardy of crashing against rocks, faced with winds reaching 100 km/h. As flood conditions begin to subside in some regions, like Nambour on the Sunshine Coast, multiple flood warnings continue to be active across the southeastern parts of the state.
Despite the ongoing challenges, these rescue operations showcase the crucial role of emergency services in ensuring public safety during natural disasters. The quick responses and effective use of technology have proven vital in saving lives during these harrowing events.