One person dead in floodwaters at Kanigan

A Sunshine Coast man has drowned in floodwaters as towns and cities across the Wide Bay are inundated and bracing for more to come. The 22-year-old drowned in a vehicle which was swept away after massive rain.

A man has been killed in floodwaters between the Fraser Coast and Gympie as severe weather hit the region on Friday night.

The 22-year-old Sunshine Coast man drowned in a vehicle after being swept away in floodwaters about 7.30pm on Friday in Kanigan.

A police spokesman said the incident happened on Cherry Tree Rd, near the Bruce Highway.

Following an extensive response involving police and swift water rescue crews, the man was located deceased inside the vehicle on Saturday morning.

An extraordinary deluge of rain hit the region overnight.

As well as the death, 15 people are unaccounted for, highways have been washed away, entire towns cut off and residents are being implored to move to higher ground as river levels rise after an “incredibly rare” weather event dropped 673mm of rain over the Wide Bay region.

The rain was localised around the Gympie area but there remain several threats of flash flooding, with more rainfall expected over the hours to 4pm.

Marodian, southwest of Gympie recorded an extraordinary 673mm since 9am Friday while 650mm has fallen at Mt Kanigan, northwest of Gympie, 523mm at Glenwood and 464mm at Brooyar.

Parts of the Fraser Coast will be isolated in coming days as major flood levels are expected in the Mary River in Maryborough. The Fraser Coast Regional Council has issued an Emergency Alert for residents in Maryborough.

Dozens of roads have been cut and there have been power outages across Gympie, Fraser Coast and Bundaberg.

The rescue of three people from a flooding house at Gundiah that was starting to move was among more than 20 swift water rescues carried out across the Wide Bay Burnett region overnight.

On Saturday, police issued a warning asking motorists to rethink their travel as severe weather continues across the Wide Bay.

Members of the public were asked to avoid flooded roads, creeks and water courses and to travel with extreme caution if necessary.