Four people are currently stranded near Middleton after being trapped by the flooded Diamantina River.
An unregistered EBIRP activation was detected early this morning.
Police co-ordinated a search and rescue operation with other agencies including the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Canberra.
Police were unable to travel to the location due to recent rainfall in surrounding catchments which has resulted in the Diamantina River and surrounding creeks flooding with vehicles unable access to the area.
The Kennedy Development Road is closed, and all surrounding access roads are deemed unsafe to drive due to flooding conditions.
An aircraft from Cairns tasked to search the area, which was approximately 60kms west of Winton on the Kennedy Development Road near the Diamantina River crossing, located two vehicles on the banks of the river with one of the vehicles partially submerged.
Four people were also spotted. A communications kit was lowered down to the group and communications established.
They advised that they were uninjured and had sufficient food and water to remain with the vehicle and would move it to higher ground.
It is expected that the group will be retrieved tomorrow morning possibly with the assistance of a local property owner who has a boat.
It is expected the area will be remain isolated for some time due to flood waters and motorists are advised to avoid the area.
For information regarding road conditions and closures visit https:/qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/ and for weather updates and flood warnings visit https://www.bom.gov.au
REMEMBER: IF IT’S FLOODED, FORGET IT
No further information is available.
