A woman has sadly been found dead in her car after it became submerged in floodwaters at Belli Park, west of Eumundi, on Wednesday morning.
Around 4:45am on 23 February, police and emergency services received a report of a vehicle submerged in floodwaters at Skyring Creek Road.
Emergency services were initially unable to access the car due to fast-rising floodwaters but were able to find and access the submerged Honda CRV just after 8am.
The sole passenger of the vehicle, a 63-year-old Belli Park woman, was found dead inside the vehicle.
Sunshine Coast Police District Superintendent Craig Hawkins said police were also searching for up to 10 missing people on Wednesday.
“We’ve also unfortunately seen people driving into flood waters once again and as part of that we’ve not only had to rescue people from vehicles, but also unfortunately seen the death of at least one lady,” he said.
He said the heavy rainfall in such a short period of time took the community by surprise.
“Majority of the evacuations occurred in the hinterland of Noosa, up around the Belli Park and Kin Kin area. They seemed to get hit the heaviest overnight,” he said.
“Other instances they we’ve also had to attend to were inundated homes where people have had to be evacuated, similarly people in caravans have had to be rescued, including vehicles that have been washed away.
“We are searching for some people at the moment, particularly around the Belli Park area. We’re hoping there will be a good outcome. The numbers are changing constantly but it’s certainly less than 10.
“This is a clear indication, once again, that flood waters are extremely dangerous.
“Again this re-enforces the message that we put out regularly in time for disaster season, ‘If it’s flooded, forget it’.”
Investigations into the death of a 63-year-old woman are ongoing and police will prepare a report for the coroner.
