Mass evacuations as Queensland floods

BRISBANE - Mass evacuations are under way across flooded Queensland with disasters declared in the inland towns of Theodore, Dalby and Chinchilla.

Almost the entire 300-plus population of Theodore, inland from Bundaberg, will be flown out by chopper after flood waters inundated the entire town.

It's now the subject of a disaster declaration by the state government which also covers Chinchilla and Dalby, west of Brisbane.

Australia's Deputy Premier Paul Lucas will again fly to flood hit communities on Tuesday.

In Dalby, the Myall Creek has divided the town, with more than 100 homes inundated.

In Chinchilla, Charleys Creek has reached levels not seen for 70 years with about 40 homes and businesses inundated.

Meanwhile, the Burnett River is rising fast causing major flooding in the communities of Mundubbera and Gayndah, where river levels have already exceeded the 1954 flood, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

"Major flood peaks are expected in these areas during Tuesday," it said.

"Fast river rises and major flooding will extend along the Burnett River to the Bundaberg area during the next 2 days.

"Significant river rises are expected to recommence at Bundaberg during Tuesday, where a moderate to major flood peak is expected to reach the Bundaberg area on late Wednesday and Thursday."

Emergency Management Queensland boss Bruce Grady said the situation in Theodore, inland from Bundaberg, was dire.

"The Dawson has experienced record flooding overnight and we're actually looking to evacuate the entire township of 350 residents," he told the ABC.

The river broke its previous record height of 14.07 metres overnight, sparking the mass evacuation. Banana Shire Councillor Vaughn Becker said even the safe haven set up for evacuees was flooded.

"There is water actually in our evacuation hall," he told the ABC.

He said the situation in the town was bad, and people would be pleased to get out.

"There's water right through the CBD and around the town, so it's a pretty drastic situation."

Western Downs deputy mayor Mick Cosgrove said Dalby was in trouble.

"The swollen Myall Creek has split the town in two," he told AAP. "It's still holding up steady at 3.5 (metres) this morning.

"It's too early for the mop-up to begin here. The water level is too high."

Western Downs councillor Bill McCutcheon said 20 people in Chinchilla and 11 people from Warra had evacuated to an emergency centre overnight with many others making their own arrangements.

"It's quite dire here ... We're in totally uncharted territory. The bureau has no idea how high it will go," he told the ABC.

"The water is still rising, there's a lot of water to come down. The creek has covered the Warrego Highway completely, right up to the roofline of some of the shops.

"There's quite a few houses with water in them and heaps more with water under them."

Barcaldine Regional Council mayor Rob Chandler said flood levels were rising at Alpha but holding steady at Jericho, both west of Emerald, on Tuesday.

He told the ABC 18 Jericho residents had evacuated to the town hall while a lot of Alpha residents had moved to stay with friends.

Southern Downs Mayor Ron Bellingham told AAP Warwick had accommodated 1000 stranded tourists overnight, and 40 homes were inundated.

More than 100 people have been evacuated at Warwick, he said.

"Many of those (stranded tourists) have gone this morning but there's a great degree of uncertainty over whether they can get all the way through to Brisbane," he said.

Mr Bellingham said there was a landslip at Cunninghams Gap and he expected the roads from Warwick to Brisbane and Toowoomba to be cut off until about noon (AEST).

Since 5am on Monday, the State Emergency Service hotline has received 2880 calls for help from across the state including from the Warwick, Dalby, Bundaberg, Burnett, Logan and Toowoomba areas.

More than 300 roads are closed across Queensland and there've been five more swift-water rescues as motorists continue to ignore warnings not to cross flooded roads.

Four involved rescuing people from cars trapped in flood waters.

Police warned drivers they could be charged for recklessly ignoring warnings.

- AAP