Police have expressed serious welfare concerns for seven individuals missing hundreds of kilometers northeast of Kalgoorlie, amid severe rain and flooding that has disrupted transportation in Western Australia.
The missing individuals were traveling in two vehicles—a beige Toyota LandCruiser and a white Mitsubishi Triton—on Sunday between 10 am and 2 pm, heading from Kalgoorlie-Boulder to Tjuntjuntjara.
The LandCruiser and Triton were part of a convoy, with the Triton carrying five passengers, including four children aged 7 to 17, and the LandCruiser containing elderly drivers. Concerns have been raised about their safety due to the adverse weather conditions and the uncertainty of their food and water supplies.
Over the weekend, parts of WA experienced rainfall exceeding half a year’s average in just 24 hours. Rawlinna, 900 km east of Perth, recorded over 155 mm of rain since Friday morning.
Police are searching for missing vehicles amid heavy flooding and road closures in WA.The Eyre Highway has been closed and is expected to remain so for several days, with the Trans-Australian Railway also impacted. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecasted additional rainfall of up to 130 mm for the Goldfields, Eucla, and South Interior regions.
The rain, resulting from a cold front that moved through WA, has caused widespread flooding in the Eastern Goldfields, central Eucla districts, and surrounding areas. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has advised residents to seek shelter and avoid driving through floodwaters.
The highway closure, a rare occurrence, is expected to last through the week. The Bureau of Meteorology reported record-breaking rainfall, with Eyre receiving 141 mm on Sunday, surpassing the previous record of 81.2 mm set in 2011.
While rainfall is expected to ease later this week, the situation remains severe, and Christmas Island may face a tropical cyclone due to a tropical low approaching the Pilbara.