Search for girl in floodwaters continues, major flooding in Maryborough area

The search continues for a 14-year-old girl who was swept away in floodwaters early Saturday morning near Gympie as residents on the Fraser Coast brace for more major flooding in south-east Queensland. 

The girl’s 40-year-old father was rescued by emergency services just after midday after being located clinging to a tree. 

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said river levels were high and widespread moderate to major flooding is occurring across the Mary River catchment.

Major flooding is now occurring at Maryborough, Miva and Tiaro, where a peak of about 10.5 metres of the Mary River is predicted later today.

BOM forecaster Pieter Claasen said the floodwater levels were not likely to break any records. 

“We are expecting the flooding at Maryborough to peak later on this evening at about 10.5 metres, so that’s just below the 2013 peak of of 10.7 metres,” he said.

“But definitely it’s going to be an odd peak expected at Maryborough and we already are seeing flood levels in excess of major flood levels currently occurring at Maryborough as well.”

Gympie has experienced moderate flooding.

The BOM has cancelled its severe thunderstorms warning for people in the Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett districts.

It said rainfall would continue to ease but showers remained possible.

There have been more than 75 calls for help across the state, with multiple swiftwater rescues.

Earlier on Saturday, the body of a 22-year-old Sunshine Coast man was recovered after his car was washed off a bridge at Kanigan in the Wide Bay region.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service’s Cameron Herbert said the massive amount of water was making it difficult to reach isolated people.

“We’re very much hindered by the weather conditions and access to a lot of the areas because there were a lot of areas that were impassable and our crews, due to safety, just couldn’t get to those areas,” he said.

Gallery: The world’s most devastating tropical storms (StarsInsider)