Australian military aircraft are ferrying more supplies to a flood-hit city in Queensland as river levels continue to rise.

澳大利亚昆士兰州洪水水位持续上涨，军用飞机将救援物资运载到这座被洪水袭击的城市。

The Fitzroy River at Rockhampton is due to peak early on Wednesday, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of homes.

Floods across Queensland have closed roads and airports, devastated¹（毁坏，摧毁） industry and claimed at least three lives.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has offered assistance to Australia - a close ally.

"On behalf of President (Barack) Obama and the people of the United States, I offer my condolences（慰问，哀悼） for the loss of life and damage in Queensland caused by the recent flooding," she said.

"Our embassy in Canberra is monitoring the situation and has been in contact with Australian authorities. Australia is an important partner and close friend of the United States and we stand ready to provide assistance."

More than 20 towns across a huge swathe（带子，绷带） of Queensland have been cut off or flooded, and more than 200,000 people affected².

State Premier³ Anna Bligh has warned that the floods may not recede⁴（后退，减弱） for weeks.

Swarms⁵ of mosquitoes

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard described the situation as "a major natural disaster" and said recovery would take "a significant amount of time".

In Rockhampton - which has a population of of about 77,000 - floodwaters are filled with sewage and debris⁶ and swarms of mosquitoes are adding to residents' problems, Australian media reported.

More than 500 homes in the city have been evacuated⁷ but some residents are refusing to leave, Australian broadcaster ABC reported.

A major highway north of the city is still open but officials say it could be impassable within hours.

With Rockhampton's airport closed, supplies are being delivered to the city by military helicopters and barges⁸（驳船） .

With the flood peak still several hours away and many residents refusing to leave, emergency services are preparing to rescue those in trouble.

Emergency teams have set up a "tactical medical centre" with dozens of tents at the small airport in the coal port of Gladstone, about 100km (60 miles) south of Rockhampton.

One Rockhampton resident told the BBC that she had stocked up on fuel and food at petrol stations as she drove back early from holiday.

"We are going to stay in, we are fully⁹ prepared, have plenty of food and have been boiling the water - but if the water gets higher than 9.4m we will have to turn the power off and might have to leave," said Trudi Reed.

"The water is coming very quickly and we are watching it rise."

The intense rains have also had an impact on coal and sugar production.

Premier Anna Bligh said 75% of operations at the state's coal fields had been halted, which supply half of the world's coking coal（焦煤） needed in steel manufacturing.

She said the flow of water passing through the state's river systems was "nothing short of astonishing".

"Given the scale and size of this disaster and the prospect¹⁰ that we will see waters sitting for potentially a couple of weeks... we will continue to have major issues to deal with throughout January," she told reporters.