Hundreds more flee homes in flood path

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BRISBANE - Homes are underwater in the city of Bundaberg and residents are fleeing Emerald as Queensland's flood crisis continues to take a heavy toll.

Helicopters are also continuing the evacuation of the flooded town of Theodore, west of Bundaberg, which authorities hope will be empty by nightfall.

While the rain has eased in Queensland, river levels continue to rise in many locations as the deluge that has hit southern and central Queensland makes its way towards the sea.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that downstream communities, particularly Bundaberg and Rockhampton, face days of uncertainty.

Premier Anna Bligh met victims in Bundaberg and said the worst floods in the city since the 1950s had inundated 40 homes already, while water was lapping at the floorboards of a further 80.

Authorities are warning that up to 200 homes in the coastal city are at risk of inundation, and evacuations are under way.

The Burnett River was expected to reach 7.5m later today, well above the 1954 record of 7.2m.

Bligh said up to 600 people could be left homeless if the floods, which are expected to worsen, hit all 200 homes.

"This is the worst flood since the 1950s here in Bundaberg. A lot of people are going to be hurt by this, there's a lot of heartbreak already," she said.

Evacuations were also under way in the inland town of Emerald, west of Rockhampton, after the Department of Community Safety warned that flood levels would equal or exceed those seen in 2008.

The January 2008 floods saw 2700 people evacuated and cost more than A$50 million ($66 million).

The Nogoa River, which flows through Emerald, is at major flood levels and is expected to peak tomorrow about 0.3m higher than the 2008 flood, which reached 15.36m.

The Bureau of Meteorology said Fairbairn Dam was also expected to peak today.

"More than 200 homes are going to be evacuated but some may only end with water around the house," said Emerald Mayor Peter Maguire.

"In 2008, the water was coming over the spillway at Fairbairn Dam at 4.4m.

"This time you're looking at 5m. But it can handle 10 to 12m. There's no risk to the dam itself."

Gregory MP Vaughan Johnson, whose electorate takes in Emerald, said the area around the town resembled a huge inland delta.

"All the river systems are full, the farmland has all been washed away and the crops have all been destroyed," he said.

"I flew over the area from Alpha to Barcaldine in a helicopter yesterday and I've never seen water lying in that country like it is now - never.

"It's like a delta system draining, and you've got to see it to believe it."

While Theodore has been inundated, Banana Shire Council acting Mayor Maureen Clancy fears that the town will be hit again when water at nearby Taroom flows downstream.

The Dawson River reached a record height of 10.28m at Taroom yesterday - a metre higher than the 1956 record of 9.27m.

"This is way out of the scheme of things," Clancy said.

To the south, the town of Dalby had just two days of drinking water left after its water treatment plant was damaged.

Western Downs Mayor Ray Brown said the town's 14,000 residents could not begin the clean up until the water supply issue was resolved, and he was considering trucking in water for drinking.

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas has put the likely damage bill in excess of A$1 billion.

- AAP