34 People Trapped in Bus Due to Floodwaters

A routine bus trip in Australia turned into a tense, hours-long survival ordeal after rising floodwaters trapped dozens of passengers on a remote road — forcing rescuers to launch a painstaking evacuation that lasted most of the morning.

Authorities say 34 people, including 33 passengers and the driver of a Greyhound coach, were stranded early Saturday when their bus became surrounded by fast-moving floodwaters in Queensland. Emergency crews ultimately spent nearly six hours rescuing everyone one pair at a time using a motorized rescue craft.

The dramatic operation unfolded near the coastal city of Gladstone after emergency services received reports shortly after 6:30 a.m. that the bus had become stuck between two large sections of floodwater.

Rescuers quickly realized the situation was more complicated than a typical roadside breakdown.

“It couldn’t move and it couldn’t turn around,” Queensland Fire Department state coordinator Chief Superintendent Rob Bonniwell said. “The only safe option was to evacuate the passengers and ferry them out.”

The problem: the stranded bus sat more than a mile from safe ground.

That meant rescuers had to shuttle passengers in extremely small groups across floodwater that had swallowed large sections of roadway.

Two passengers at a time were loaded into a specialized swift-water rescue boat and carried across more than two kilometers of flooded terrain to a designated command point set up by emergency crews.

Firefighters repeated the trip over and over again.

The slow process stretched for hours as rescuers carefully escorted each passenger away from the stranded coach. Officials said the last evacuees reached safety just after noon.

Despite the dramatic scene, authorities said the passengers remained calm while waiting for help.

“Fortunately the passengers were well looked after and they weren’t in immediate danger,” Bonniwell said. “That allowed us to move them carefully and safely.”

Fire crews also distributed water and other basic supplies to those stuck on the bus while waiting for evacuation.

The Queensland Fire Department later described the mission as a “mammoth rescue effort.”

“The lengthy operation saw crews utilize a motorized swiftwater rescue craft to transport two passengers at a time across more than two kilometres of floodwater,” the department said in a statement. “Firefighters also ensured passengers remained comfortable by providing essential supplies.”

After reaching safety, the group was transported to the nearby town of Miriam Vale where local officials assisted with transportation and shelter.

The rescue was just one example of the extreme weather hammering parts of Queensland this week.

Torrential rain has drenched central regions of the state, with some areas recording more than 9 inches of rainfall in just 24 hours. The downpours have flooded roads, stranded motorists, and forced emergency crews into multiple rescue operations.

In separate incidents over the weekend, authorities also rescued several people trapped in vehicles as floodwaters quickly rose across the region.

Travel has been heavily disrupted as well. Whitsunday Airport temporarily shut down operations and canceled flights due to the severe weather.

Local officials are warning residents the danger may not be over yet.

Meteorologists say a developing tropical low moving across northern Queensland could bring even more heavy rain in the coming days — raising fears that additional flooding could strike communities already dealing with waterlogged roads and dangerous conditions.

For the 34 bus passengers rescued Saturday, the frightening experience served as a powerful reminder of how quickly flash floods can turn an ordinary trip into a life-threatening emergency.