Severe weather hampers search for family of seven missing in remote WA

Poor weather and continued flooding is hampering search efforts for seven people missing in remote Western Australia.

The family, which includes four children, left Kalgoorlie Boulder, about 600km east of Perth, in two cars on Sunday and were driving 650km north east toward Tjuntjuntjarra, where they were to arrive on Monday.

The missing group is reported to be travelling in a white Mitsubishi Triton and a beige Toyota Landcruiser. Source: Supplied / WA Police

They have not been seen since and serious concerns are held for the group which consists of two elderly male drivers, four children aged between 12 and 17 and an elderly woman.

WA Police said severe weather conditions on Wednesday morning meant helicopters and planes could not be used in the search.

The missing group is reported to be travelling in a beige Toyota Landcruiser, registration number A683 and a white Mitsubishi Triton, registration number KBC8881.

The continued search comes as a major road connecting large parts of remote WA reopened after a weather-induced closure.

Emergency WA reported that floodways and river levels may rise rapidly and cause damage to roads and bridges, making driving dangerous.

“Take care on gravel and unsealed roads as they may be slippery and muddy, and you could get bogged,” an alert read.

“If your car stalls in rising water, abandon it immediately and seek shelter above floodwater.”

A low pressure trough over central and far south-eastern Western Australia has resulted in thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.

Significant rainfall over the past few days has resulted in localised flooding and road closures.

Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are forecast for Wednesday which are expected to cause further river and creek level rises and overland flooding.

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