Missing people stranded by storms and flooding are found alive in the Australian Outback. Image source via Freepik.
Aerial searchers have successfully located a group of missing people after three days stranded in Western Australia’s flooded outback.
The group, consisting of three elderly adults and four children aged between seven and 17 years, had left Kalgoorlie-Boulder and were travelling in two cars.
They were reported to have left the area on Sunday 10 March between 10am and 2pm, and were travelling to their home, Tjuntjuntjara, which was estimated to be about 700 kilometres inland.
The weather conditions hampered search and rescue efforts, as a large trough remained mostly stationary over the outback area, drenching the land in massive amounts of rain. This led to widespread flooding in the region.
The Trans-Australian Railway Line was closed due to the flooding, along with north sections of the Great Northern Highway. Cattle stations and unsealed roads were also found to have been damaged by floods and torrential rain.
Authorities were unable to do an aerial sweep of the Goldfields area while there was a severe weather warning in effect. Police Inspector Mick Kelly explained that air assets had been forced to turn back to Kalgoorlie-Boulder on Tuesday 12 March.
‘Quite simply, the plane can’t see through the clouds and therefore, we were unable to locate them. It becomes too dangerous for the pilot,’ said Kelly.
Searchers were able to get airborne on Wednesday 13 March, with a police plane spotting the group, who had a bogged vehicle. All were alive, with arrangements being made to rescue the group and provide them with food and water.
The group is expected to be taken back to Kalgoorlie-Boulder for medical checks to ensure their wellbeing. They will then be flown to their destination, Tjuntjuntjara.
Tjuntjuntjara is one of the most remote Aboriginal countries in Australia, home to an estimated 200 people and managed by the Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation on behalf of the Spinifex people.
According to Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Jon Lark, the news of the group’s safety came as a relief to the community.
“Clearly from the photo we can see everybody is looking very fine and healthy and happy, of course this is how we hoped they would be.”
The severe weather warning for the Kalgoorlie region has since been cancelled.
