People willingly entering floodwaters amid a severe weather event in southeast Queensland has prompted a warning from emergency services.
In one instance, a man was filmed jumping into a flooded sporting field from the roof of an interchange dugout in Caboolture, north of Brisbane, on Tuesday.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Examples of people’s dangerous floodwater acts emerge.
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Footage has been provided to 7NEWS of a Woolworths delivery truck driving into Morayfield floodwaters, before the vehicle’s engine appears to shut down.
Police posted an image of a man being escorted from floodwaters, with a car nearby, also in Morayfield.
“We cannot emphasise enough the risk of driving through floodwaters,” police said in a social media post.
“If it is flooded, forget it. You are putting your life and the lives of others who have to rescue you at risk.
“If there is a sign or police present at floodwaters, it does not mean that you drive around them.
“Do not move signs and put unsuspecting drivers at risk.”
In Laidley, west of Brisbane, a man was filmed wading through thigh-high waters in the town’s inundated centre.
Aside from the risk related to rescues, there have been recent warnings about flood-related disease after a man in far north Queensland died from the bacterial infection melioidosis.
That case was linked to ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which caused widespread flooding in the state’s north.
“Far north Queenslanders are being warned to keep out of muddy water following an increase in the number of melioidosis cases,” Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service said on Monday.
“Melioidosis is a serious disease found in groundwater and soil.
“It causes death in up to 50 per cent or more of untreated cases and up to 20 per cent of treated cases. Early recognition and treatment is important.
“There have been nine confirmed melioidosis cases reported since the beginning of January. This is a high number of cases for the time of year.”
Queensland Health advises people to “avoid floodwater”.
“Floodwater can be dirty and make you sick,” the authority said.
“It can lead to wound infections, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, and serious diseases like leptospirosis and melioidosis.
“Cover any cuts with waterproof dressings. Wear boots and gloves, and wash your skin well if exposed.”
Emergency services have received multiple calls for help across the state’s southeast.
Swiftwater rescue firefighters rescued 13 people as floodwaters rose across the Moreton Bay, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Darling Downs regions overnight.
Eight of those rescues were in the Moreton Bay region alone.
Samford Valley was one of the worst hit in the region, receiving 300mm of rain in three hours.
The SES also responded to 28 calls for help in the Moreton Bay region overnight.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have issued emergency alerts for Laidley, and Forest Hill, west of Brisbane.
– With AAP
