By Robyn Wuth and Laine Clark

Two bodies have been discovered in the search for a pair of missing backpackers, marking the first flood-related fatalities in a rain-hit region.

Police on Thursday said they believed the bodies were of two international tourists who were travelling to Queensland’s flood-ravaged North Burnett region from Brisbane but failed to arrive at their destination.

The disappearance of the 26-year-old man and 23-year-old woman sparked a search of the area from Kilkivan to Mundubbera, west of Gympie, where floodwaters had recently inundated communities.

Police, SES volunteers and helicopters scoured the region from Wednesday morning, later locating a silver vehicle at Kilkivan Tansey Road.

Police later confirmed two bodies were found in the vehicle.

Divers and forensic teams are investigating the scene.

“However, police believe the two deceased to be the missing 26-year-old man and 23-year-old woman,” a police statement said.

They mark the first fatalities in the flood hit region where more communities look set to be inundated in coming days.

The Chinchilla community northwest of Brisbane is next in line after Bundaberg was flooded on Wednesday, inundating hundreds of houses and businesses.

Chinchilla’s flooded Charleys Creek is not expected to reach a 6.8-metre peak until about midday on Thursday, local mayor Andrew Smith told AAP.

Residents were clinging to hope that Charleys Creek, which runs through the town, would not reach the devastating flood levels of 2011.