Qungwei Qiu was 26 years old when he passed away tragically in Queensland, Australia.

Qungwei’s friend Xie Yongqi had claimed, “He loved cars and seemed to make new friends everywhere he went” and that “[h]e was easygoing and got along with everyone… He is good to people … he likes to play the guitar.” Qungwei was once enlisted in the military, and opened a bar in China. He also rode motorbikes from Fujian to Lhasa. He wasn’t the only person to fall victim to the flood; Yunchen Gui was also with him.

Yunchen Guo was 23 years old when she died in the flood. Her family mourned her heavily after her passing. Her father stated that she was “bright and smart,” reminiscing that she “always had a beautiful smile.” It seems her father was completely heartbroken after the passing of his daughter. Gympie mayor Glen Hartwig stated that these deaths were an “absolute tragedy.”

The two individuals’ deaths were caused by the flood in Queensland, Australia. The flood covered 400mm in 24 hours. Quingwei was driving the silver Subaru forester submerged that the two drowned in. They were originally marked missing after their family could not get ahold of the two. Their location disappeared in the Kilkivan area, which tipped the parents off. Friends also found it odd when Qungwei stopped answering them abruptly after being very communicative days before. Jianxiang stated that “On March 7, she posted that the rain was extremely heavy and she could barely see the road.” 

The two were traveling from Brisbane to Gayndah to find farm work. Yunchen had come from China to Australia from the idea of chasing her dreams. Yunchen’s dream was to travel, according to her family. Qungwei, before he passed, had traveled a journey of nearly 2800km. Gympie mayor Glen Hartwig said, “These people have come to Australia to see our beautiful country… and tragically they’ve ended up losing their lives.” Gympie mayor Glen Hartwig had also stated “We’re very grateful that they chose to come and see our country and we’re so sorry for their loss and the pain that [family members] are now feeling.”