Winton police were coordinating a helicopter rescue of four people stranded near Middleton in the state’s west on Saturday morning.
The four, two of whom are understood to be French nationals, were located trapped by Diamantina River floodwaters 60km west of Winton after an unregistered EBIRP activation was detected early on Friday morning.
A search and rescue operation began in conjunction with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Canberra.
As police weren’t able to travel to the destination, thanks to recent rain that has closed the Kennedy Development Road, an aircraft from Cairns searched the area.
According to police media sources, two vehicles, one partially submerged, plus four people, were located on the banks of the Diamantina River on the development road.
After establishing communications, the four advised they were uninjured and had enough food and water to stay with the vehicle, and that they would move it to higher ground.
A police spokesman said at 10am on Saturday, the rescue effort was underway.
“It sounds like they were pretty lucky,” he said.
It is expected the area will be remain isolated for some time due to flood waters.
Christine Batt, reporting in on the Who Got the Rain Facebook page, said their property, Nuken, 110km north west of Winton, had had 395mm of rain over the last week.
At 6.45am on Saturday, the Diamantina River at Elderslie was 3.40m and rising, 1.80m above the causeway, a major flood.
Further down at Tulmur it was 6.15m and rising slowly at 9am.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area.
For information regarding road conditions and closures visit https:/qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/ and for weather updates and flood warnings visit http://www.bom.gov.au
Currently, the monsoon trough extends from the Gulf Country across the base of Cape York Peninsula to the east tropical coast near Cardwell, and should remain almost stationary for the next few days.
A tropical low lies on the monsoon trough over northwest Queensland and is expected to deepen over the weekend, increasing the monsoonal flow across northern Queensland.
Very heavy falls are possible near the monsoon trough and low.
Saturday’s forecast for the central west is for a 70 per cent chance of showers and rain areas north of Longreach, and a 30pc chance elsewhere.
On Sunday it’s expected to remain cloudy with a 90pc chance of showers and rain areas north of Longreach, and a 60pc chance elsewhere in the central west.
There will be a chance of thunderstorms north of Longreach.
Remember, if it’s flooded, forget it.
Read more: Residents flee north Queensland landslide
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
