Motorists ignore warnings as heavy rainfall continues in north Queensland

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford has expressed disappointment after numerous videos emerged of motorists driving through floodwater in north Queensland.

Mr Crawford - who will inspect the region tomorrow (Friday) - said drivers were ignoring warnings and road closures, putting themselves at risk in unpredictable conditions.

“I am frustrated to see so many motorists making poor decisions and lines of cars driving through roads that are flooded and clearly unsafe,” he said.

“I find it beyond belief that despite continuous warnings motorists keep putting not only their life but also the lives of emergency services personnel at risk.”

Mr Crawford urged motorists to obey road closures in place across north Queensland.

“Roads have been closed for a reason and motorists have no way of knowing what is happening underneath the water – there may be branches or rubbish blocking their path, or the road may have been damaged or swept away,” he said.

“Even if a road hasn’t been closed but you can see it is flooded use common sense and don’t drive through it. People need to think about the consequences of their actions, especially if their decision ended in tragedy.”

A severe weather warning is current for northern parts of Queensland, with falls of up to 300mm recorded in the 24 hours leading up to 9am (Thursday) and heavy rainfall expected to continue.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Commissioner Katarina Carroll said extra swiftwater crews had been deployed in the region.

Ms Carroll said although the specialist crews were prepared to help when required, these types of rescues were one of the most dangerous crews could undertake.

“Swiftwater crews are on the ground and ready to help but we want to make sure at the end of the day they return home safely as well,” she said.

“The safest option for them is not to be called to these kinds of rescues so we need people need to understand that when they choose to drive through floodwater they are also making a decision that could put other lives at risk.

“Know which roads are flooded and have a plan B in place if the route you usually take is too dangerous, or stay off the roads if you can.”

Residents are advised to stay tuned to local radio and visit the Bureau of Meteorology website for the latest warnings and weather updates.

For SES assistance call 132 500 and for life threatening emergencies call Triple Zero (000).

ENDS

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