The passengers had to be ferried out two at a time in a motorized rescue craft, rescue officials said
Credit: Queensland Fire Department/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- Authorities in Australia rescued 34 people over six hours after their bus became stranded in deep floodwaters on March 7
- Rescuers from the Queensland Fire Department were called after receiving reports that a Greyhound bus had become stuck between two sections of floodwater
- The 33 passengers and driver had to be ferried out two at a time in a motorized rescue craft over a mile from the bus
Authorities in Australia rescued 34 people over six hours after their bus became stranded in deep floodwaters.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and News.com.au, rescuers from the Queensland Fire Department (QFD) were called to an intersection near the coastal city of Gladstone in Queensland on Saturday, March 7, around 6:30 a.m. local time after receiving reports that a Greyhound bus had become stuck between two sections of floodwater.
"It couldn't move, it couldn't turn around, so really the only way to rescue the passengers was to escort them out and basically transport them," QFD state coordinator Chief Superintendent Rob Bonniwell told ABC.
The rescue operation quickly became complicated, Bonniwell said, as the 33 passengers and driver had to be ferried two at a time to "an incident control point" in a motorized rescue craft over a mile from the bus.
All of the passengers had made it to safety by around 12:20 p.m., authorities said.
"Fortunately, the passengers were well looked after, and they weren't in any immediate danger, so we had time where we could transport them safely," he said.
Credit: Queensland Fire Department/Facebook
Gladstone Regional Council Mayor Matt Burnett said the passengers were then taken to the nearby town of Miriam Vale.
In a statement shared on Facebook, the QFD said the rescue effort was "mammoth."
"The lengthy operation saw crews utilize a motorized swiftwater rescue craft to transport two passengers at a time across more than two kilometres of floodwater," the department said. "The job took over four hours, with firefighters also providing passengers with basic supplies, including water, to ensure they were comfortable."
"Well done to everyone involved 👏," the QFD added.
Credit: Queensland Fire Department/Facebook
The rescue operation was just one of several in Queensland over the weekend, as parts of Australia saw heavy rainfall that left roads underwater and led to flash flooding.
News.com.au reported that central Queensland saw more than 9.6 inches of rainfall in the past 24 hours.
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The QFD also shared a warning for local residents on Facebook, asking them to prepare for more rain.
"The tropical low in Far North Queensland is expected to track west into central Queensland before heading south-east in the coming days and could result in heavy rain over large parts of the state," officials said on Friday, March 6.
Across the region, authorities rescued six people who became trapped in three separate vehicles in less than five hours as the heavy rainfall struck the area, the outlets reported. The local regional airport, Whitsunday Airport, was also closed and all flights were canceled.
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