Coastal chaos: Landslides and sinkholes disrupt qld beaches in dramatic videos

Dramatic drone footage shot by park rangers of a landslip in action at a popular camping destination is just one of the environmental spectacles captured on camera. SEE THE INCREDIBLE VIDEOS

Dramatic drone footage shot by park rangers of a landslip in action at one of Queensland’s most popular camping destinations is just one of a number of spectacular environmental incidents captured on camera by visitors to the coastline.

Recent incidents captured on camera by beachgoers include a sand slide at Rainbow Beach that narrowly missed drivers and other landslips at Double Island and Inskip points.

In another incident, emergency services rescued a man trapped in a sinkhole at a Hervey Bay beach.

Drone footage captures spectacular sinkhole

Spectacular drone footage captured a landslip, more commonly known as a sinkhole, in action at Inskip Point.

Wildlife rangers filmed the dramatic near-shore landslip about 11.30am on June 3, 2024.

Sinkhole opens up at Inskip Point, near K’gari, in Queensland

A Department of Environment, Science and Innovation spokesman said sand at Inskip Point was constantly replenished.

“When cliffs collapse along the Cooloola coast, the sand is moved north by ocean currents and is deposited at Inskip Point and (K’gari),” he said.

He said Inskip Point was a “highly dynamic” peninsula where strong winds and waves naturally impacted the sandy shoreline.

Underwater landslide at Inskip Point

An underwater landslide opened up a sinkhole on Inskip Point as thousands of campers and day trippers descended there for the unofficial Anzac Day long weekend.

New sinkhole opens up at Inskip Point Anzac Day 2024

The sinkhole was videotaped as it was happening on the beach between the Sarawak and Beagle camping zones on Anzac Day by Cooloola Cove resident Raewyn Rankin.

The underwater landslides are a common occurrence on the peninsula, but never fail to be dramatic and attract plenty of attention.

Rainbow Beach landslide

A “huge” landslide that brought down tonnes of sand, rocks and trees onto a popular Queensland beach took two days to clear in January 2024.

Police said they were called to the stretch between Rainbow Beach and Double Island Point after one of the sand dunes collapsed on Thursday, January 4, at about 4pm.

Landslide blocks traffic between Double Island Point and Rainbow Beach

Waterford resident Kerissa Kelly called the landslide into the police as her husband and her kids arrived “30-60 seconds” after it happened.

“There was sand still sliding when we arrived, but only small amounts,” Ms Kelly said.

“It was huge.”

Sand slide buries vehicle at Rainbow Beach

The owners of a car caught in a spectacular sand slide between Noosa and Rainbow Beach in August 2023, were ‘lucky’ to escape without injury.

A Cooloola Coast tour operator said the owners of a car caught up in massive sand slip south of Rainbow Beach were lucky to escape serious harm.

Close call as car buried by Rainbow Beach sand slide

Epic Ocean Adventures Noosa owner Tyron Van Santen was driving on the beach when he saw the slip unfold before his eyes.

“It happened in about three or four stages,” Mr Van Santen said.

Epic Ocean Adventures Noosa owner Tyron Van Santen says the owners of a car swallowed by a spectacular sand slip at Rainbow Beach were lucky to escape without injury. Pictures: Epic Ocean Adventures Noosa

Epic Ocean Adventures Noosa owner Tyron Van Santen says the owners of a car swallowed by a spectacular sand slip at Rainbow Beach were lucky to escape without injury. Pictures: Epic Ocean Adventures Noosa

2023 Inskip Point sinkhole

High risk areas were fenced off in June 2023 and visitors to the popular campgrounds were told to stay well away from the landslide.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers monitored near shore landslide activity near Inskip Point that occurred on June 8, 2023.

“Near shore landslides can be a spectacular sight but are usually short-lived, with most coastal landslides replenishing quickly,” a QPWS spokesperson said.

New underwater landslide occurs at Inskip Point

The area of the latest landslide occurred near a barge landing area and is not near Inskip camping areas.

Landslide stops driving trip

A beachgoer caught incredible footage of the moment a landslide stopped his trip at a popular beach destination north of Noosa on April 20, 2023.

The video, posted to TikTok, was filmed from the passenger side of a four-wheel-drive at Double Island Point and captured a landslide occurring a short distance away from the vehicle.

Riley Stone, who posted the video, said his parents and his sister had driven past the cliff shortly before the landslide, which partially cut their path.

Landslide at Double Island Point caught on video

He said his partner, Hannah Fowler was filming the sand while Mr Stone was driving, before they heard a “crack”.

Man buried to chin in Hervey Bay

For almost two hours in July, 2018, a 29-year-old man was buried in sand up to his chin, unable to move and only able to scream for help.

His fate seemed grim until passers-by heard his faint calls for help and stumbled across the man in the sand dunes at a Urangan Beach.

He would be there for nearly four more hours as emergency services desperately worked to free him in a delicate operation with Fraser Coast Regional Council workers.

Man rescued from sinkhole in sand at Hervey Bay beach

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the man had been looking for animals in the sand dunes between the Urangan Pier and Dayman Park when the ground suddenly collapsed.

Originally published as Coastal chaos: Landslides and sinkholes disrupt qld beaches in dramatic videos