Flooding has left a valley to the west of Brisbane looking like a war zone, with Australian troops steeling themselves for expected ‘terrible outcomes’ as they move into the devastated area.

The threat of looting is making Queensland flood victims reluctant to evacuate their properties.

Brisbane's mayor has called on residents to 'put the shoulder to the wheel' and help clean up.

The frightening power of the brown surge heading towards Moreton Bay leaves no mistake about the devastation that this flood has done.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef, one of the ecological wonders of the world, may also be severely affected by the Queensland floods.

Find out what people are saying about the Queensland floods in social media.

The Brisbane River peaked at 4.6m this morning with residents warned there would be shocking scenes of devastation.

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.

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.

A Kiwi living in Brisbane described the city as total chaos yesterday as people were evacuated.

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.