Sunshine Coast flood death: Body found in car in hinterland tragedy

New details have been released about a Belli Park woman who died after her car was washed away in floodwaters while police still hold “grave concerns” for a missing man.

Further details have emerged about the death of a Sunshine Coast woman who died after her car was washed away in floodwaters at Belli Park.

Police confirmed the woman’s body was found in a submerged car at Belli Park, a hinterland suburb west of Eumundi on Wednesday morning.

Eumundi received more than 180mm of rain overnight as the deluge sparked flash flooding across the region.

A Queensland Police Service statement confirmed the 63-year-old was a Belli Park resident.

“About 4.45am, police and emergency services received a report of a vehicle submerged in floodwaters at Skyring Creek Rd,” the statement read.

“Emergency services were initially unable to access the vehicle due to fast-rising floodwaters but were able to locate and access the submerged Honda CRV about 9am.

“The sole passenger of the vehicle was located deceased inside it.”

Police say the investigations are ongoing while a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Sunshine Coast Police District Superintendent Craig Hawkins described the incident as a tragedy.

30+ photos: Heavy flooding hits Sunshine Coast, Noosa regions

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Superintendent Hawkins said it was too early to tell exactly what had happened.

“It’s terrible not only for her family and friends but also difficult for emergency services when we are pushing this message constantly yet we still see people driving into flood waters,” Supt Hawkins said.

“We didn’t expect this amount of rain. So if it’s flooded forget it.

“That’s where we start seeing people put themselves in risky situations and where we see loss of life.”

On Wednesday morning he said authorities were searching for up to 10 people who were unaccounted for after the widespread flooding event.

By the early afternoon all persons were located aside from a man whose motorbike was found in floodwaters at Greens Creek, near Gympie.

“We are still searching for that man who we have grave concerns for,” Superintendent Hawkins said.

“He left home for work and never arrived,” Superintendent Hawkins said.

“His motorcycle was located in flood water at Greens Creek, near Gympie but our search is still under way to try to locate him.”

He said authorities were searching mainly around the Belli Park and Noosa hinterland areas for the people who were unaccounted for.

Superintendent Hawkins urged residents to be prepared for more significant rainfall over the next two days.

He said on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning multiple rescues were conducted throughout the Noosa and Sunshine Coast areas.

It included multiple people being rescued from caravans that were inundated with water at Kin Kin.

A home was also flooded.

Sunshine Coast Police Superintendent and District Officer Craig Hawkins.

Speaking in state parliament, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk described it as a “tragic incident” and said the state’s disaster management group was bracing for more severe weather.

“This has the potential to be a significant rainfall event for southeast Queensland,” she said.

“In southeast Queensland some areas will also see a month’s worth of rain.”

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokesman said crews had performed about a dozen swift water rescues in the area from people trapped in flood waters.

A State Emergency Services spokesman said three people were rescued from a caravan park near Kenilworth after flood waters swept a vehicle and caravan away about 3am.

The spokesman said he understood the people were not hurt, however, he said the caravan had not been located.

“We’ve had 61 jobs and they’re still pouring in,” he said.

It comes after the region was pelted by intense rainfall of more than 200mm overnight while more is on the cards.

More to come.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast flood death: Body found in car in hinterland tragedy