A NZ woman watched in horror as a wall of water swept through the tiny town of Murphys Creek, throwing debris around 'like matchsticks'.

Watch livestreaming footage of the flooded Brisbane River, due to peak at 7am New Zealand time.

The death toll from flooding in the Toowoomba region has risen to 12 with the discovery of two more bodies, while the full impact of the flood terror is now reaching the town of Grantham, where up to 30 could be dead.

Three thousand homes in Ipswich, southwest of Brisbane, are now under water and 1500 people have gone to evacuation centres, with the predicted flood peak still three hours away.

Peaking river levels in Brisbane could have a devastating effect this evening, with almost 20,000 homes expected to be swamped by tomorrow. Meanwhile, 56,000 homes and businesses are without power and a fire has started at Suncorp Stadium.

Up to 33 per cent of Ipswich, 40km south-west of Brisbane, could be underwater in hours, with floodwaters from the Bremer River, which have already submerged entire blocks of the CBD, set to peak around 2pm (NZT).

A NZ Civil Defence worker who is part of a team helping residents of Queensland is overwhelmed by the scale of the devastation.

Amid tales of tragedy and heroism in the devastating floods, there's always some clowns.

Brisbane is bracing for a high tide this afternoon as thousands evacuate due to flooding in Queensland that has left 10 dead and another 90 missing.

Internet trolls have defaced a Facebook site paying tribute to the victims of the Queensland floods.

Toowoomba boy Jordan Rice, 13, has been remembered as a hero after he let his younger brother be rescued first.

Back on January 1 authorities said Queensland was facing a flood of "biblical proportions". Now, almost two weeks later, and it's hard to fathom that the "worst is yet to come" as unprecedented flooding hits the drought ravaged region.

The death toll from flooding in Queensland is expected to rise, says Premier Anna Bligh.

'Oh my God, I'm being swept away, come and get me,' was the last thing a NZ woman heard from her son, phoning from floodwaters.

Bystanders watched in horror as a woman only centimetres from her rescuer lost her grip on a power pole and disappeared under a torrent of dirty water during flash floods in Queensland.

Queensland premier Anna Bligh says southeast Queensland is facing a bigger flood than the catastrophic deluge of 1974, which killed 14. The worst of the disaster is yet to come, with Thursday predicted to be 'devastating'.

The NZ Civil Defence team helping residents of flood-stricken Queensland has been forced to return to the town of Condamine, as more floods again hit the town they had just left.

Brisbane CBD has been shut down as workers flee rising floodwaters, while five more bodies have been found in the Lockyer Valley, according to a report, bringing the toll from the Toowoomba flash floods to 11.

Whole families are unaccounted for after flash floods in southern Queensland, with eight confirmed dead and Premier Anna Bligh warning the toll could rise dramatically.

Authorities expect to find more bodies in Queensland communities torn apart by flash floods that have so far killed eight people and left 72 missing.

At least eight are dead and 72 unaccounted for after a wall of water rushed through the Australian city of Toowoomba.

A quick wrap of how the Queensland media is reporting the devastating effects of the floods across the state.

New Zealand international striker Shane Smeltz will resume playing for Queensland's Gold Coast United in the A-League.