Stranded Brisbane Christian College Children Rescued; Queensland Battles Flash Floods

Some 16 young students of Brisbane Christian College have been plucked out into safety as the school bus they were riding got stranded in flash flooding near the intersection of Learoyd and Paradise roads at Acacia Ridge on Monday morning at 8.40am. All children were safely recovered.

Eye witness accounts said the school bus got stranded on a traffic island as its driver greatly maneuvered to avoid flooded roads and rising waters. Rescue crews from Queensland Fire and Rescue and Swift Water Rescue were later seen rushing to attend the scared school children.

All 16 children were safely loaded into inflatable life rafts and then ferried to dry land within an hour. No one among the children, the bus driver and the members of the rescue teams bore injuries.

Wet Weather, More Floods

Central and southeast Queensland are both expecting to receive up to 200 millimetres of rain from Monday up into the early hours of Tuesday following the movement of a huge trough that crossed over the coast just after midnight.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) forecast strong winds and flash flooding are expected to fall in parts of the southeast in the next 24 hours.

BoM likewise warned that up to 100 millimetres of intense rainfall may occur within a six-hour period in the coastal areas.

"That could cause some problems," Ken Kato, BoM forecaster, was quoted by Brisbane Times.

Beaches located along the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast have temporarily closed.

"It's a pretty horrible day down here on the beach," Rhys Drury, a Sunshine Coast lifesaver, told ABC radio on Monday. "The winds are quite strong ... and they'll get stronger as the day goes on."

Rainfall is expected to be much heavier over the next 24 hours. Flash flooding alers have been issued for Gladstone, Gympie, Bundaberg, Kingaroy, Hervey Bay and Fraser Island.

Sunshine Coast, along with Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast may likewise experience possible flooding.