prince william and queen: Warning over crocodiles being washed into homes by Australian floods covering area bigger than France and Germany

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 2:02 AM on 1st January 2011

Officials warn communities could be under water for more than a week
1,000 people rescued from town of Emerald in last 24 hours
Residents warned of danger of crocodiles and snakes in flooded homes

More than 200,000 people have been affected in Queensland after the area suffered the worst flooding for 50 years.

The flood zone now stretches over an area bigger than France and Germany combined, officials said today.

Thousands of homes and businesses across Queensland state have been inundated with water after days of pounding rain caused swollen rivers to overflow.

The entire population of two towns was forced to evacuate as water swamped their communities, cutting off roads and devastating crops.

Scroll down for video report

Submerged: Scott Wogandt and his son Mitchell kayak past flooded cars in Bundaberg

Residents have been evacuated from a number of town in Queensland following torrential downpours that have left many communities under water

In Queensland, authorities warned of rising health risks from floodwaters, along with the danger of crocodiles and snakes in flooded homes.

Northeastern Australia often sees heavy rains and flooding during the Southern Hemisphere summer, but the scope of the damage from the recent downpours is extremely unusual, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said.

'This is without a doubt a tragedy on an unprecedented scale,' Bligh told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

'We now have 22 towns or cities that are either substantially flooded or isolated because the roads have been cut off to them. That represents some 200,000 people spanning an area that's bigger than the size of France and Germany combined.'

Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes this week. In the central Queensland town of Emerald, around 1,000 people were evacuated in the last 24 hours.

An aerial view of the flooding situation near the town of Watson, in the state of Queensland following record rainfall

Merry Christmas: But it's far from a happy new year for residents of Bundaberg who are submerged under flood water

Submerged: Most of Chincilla, in Queensland, is under water as they flooding looks set to continue

Submerged: Most of Chincilla, in Queensland, is under water and the flooding looks set to continue

The town was facing the prospect of food shortages, power outages and sewage-contaminated floodwaters, county mayor Peter Maguire said. Three evacuation centres have been set up to help displaced residents.

Weather across most of the state was drier on Friday, but river levels were still rising in some areas.
Bligh warned that drenched communities could be stuck under water for more than a week, and cleanup efforts were expected to cost billions of dollars.

Rockhampton, a city near Queensland's coast, was bracing for a deluge of river water heading its way. Roads and railway lines were expected to be cut off by Saturday, and the city's airport planned to shut down over the weekend.

Worst hit: Street signs are submerged in flood waters in Bundaberg, Queensland

Damage: These homes are completely underwater after swollen rivers burst their banks. One thousand people had to be rescued by helicopter from the town of Theodore

Recovery operation: Christopher Roth tries to salvage what he can from his parents' flooded home in Bundaberg

Officials were evacuating residents today, starting with the elderly and those living in low-lying areas.

There were concerns over food supplies in the city, with many stores already sold out of bread, milk and fresh meat, Rockhampton Mayor Brad Carter said.

Gary Boyer, regional manager of supermarket chain Woolworths, said the company was sending 43 trucks full of supplies into Rockhampton today.

Queensland launched a disaster relief fund for flood victims with 1 million Australian dollars ($1 million) in state money. Prime Minister Julia Gillard pledged to match that amount with federal funds.
Gillard was touring flooded communities on Friday, and planned to stop in Rockhampton later in the day.

Earlier, she toured the city of Bundaberg, where about 60 people have taken shelter at an evacuation centre.

Resident Sandy Kiddle told Gillard she lost cherished items after floodwaters surged through her house, and may not be able to return home for a week.

'It was just a sea of water and I thought the beach would never come to our house,' she told Gillard, who gave her a hug.

Queensland officials have warned evacuated residents that their communities could be under water for more than a week following days of torrential downpours.

The entire populations of Theodore and Bundaberg have already been evacuated from their flooded homes and all 100 residents of Condamine are in the process of being air-lifted by helicopter from the stricken town.

The rain is easing, but river levels continued to rise in many locations as high waters made their way toward the sea.