Australian police have recovered the bodies of two Chinese backpackers who went missing amid severe floodwaters in Queensland.
The 26-year-old man and 23-year-old woman were travelling from Brisbane to the North Burnett region when they failed to reach their destination on Tuesday, prompting a missing persons report.
Authorities located their silver Subaru Forester near the town of Kilkivan, close to Gympie, on Wednesday afternoon, following an extensive search involving police, the State Emergency Service, and helicopters.
On Thursday, police confirmed that the two bodies were found inside the submerged vehicle. Next of kin have been notified, and officers are coordinating with the Chinese consulate.
Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig described the deaths as an “absolute tragedy.” He told the ABC: “These people came to Australia to see our beautiful country… and tragically, they’ve lost their lives.”
Queensland and parts of the Northern Territory (NT) have been under major flood warnings for several days, with river levels continuing to rise due to heavy rainfall.
Hundreds of homes have been flooded in towns including Bundaberg in Queensland and Katherine in the NT. Residents have also reported crocodile sightings in floodwaters and have been warned to avoid them.
In Darwin, authorities have asked residents to reduce water usage and boil drinking water after flooding at a dam pump station—the primary water supply for the city—caused it to stop functioning.