Two Korean tourists who became stranded on a dirt road near Avon Downs after ignoring flood warnings have been fined.

Superintendent Bruce Porter said the pair were driving from Queensland travelling to Darwin when they found the Barkly Highway west of Avon Downs had been closed due to flooding.

Despite road closure signs and barriers, the pair decided to drive their Nissan van onto Rankin Road - a dirt road running from the Barkly Highway to the Tablelands Highway north-West of the Barkly.

Avon Downs Police were called to rescue the pair this morning after they became stranded and bogged on the dirt road approximately 50 kilometres from Avon Downs. Supt Porter said the pair were issued a traffic infringement notice for ignoring traffic control signs.

"The actions of these two were irresponsible and they placed themselves and rescuers at risk," Supt Porter said.

"These signs are put there for a reason, and for the public's safety. I again reiterate to the public the importance of taking these warnings and closures seriously. There is no easy alternative to this level of flooding, and to assume that a dirt road would be any more passable than a bitumen road is just plain stupid. Common sense must prevail."

The pair were escorted back to Camooweal after their vehicle was recovered. They have been fined $90 under the Traffic Act.

Meanwhile two Caucasian men from Mt Isa have also been issued with a traffic infringement notice after they were found on the Barkly Highway near the Rankin Road turnoff driving a Nissan Pulsar. The pair alerted police to the stranded Koreans. The men told police they had travelled from Mt Isa to see the flooding for themselves as they did not believe the media reports.

NB: photo attached
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