In Queensland, more than 1,000 people were plucked to safety in the city of Bundaberg as the Burnett River burst its banks, flooding 2,000 homes. 

 

In New South Wales there are concerns that the Clarence River, at a record high, could flood the city of Grafton. 

 

Tropical Cyclone⁴ Oswald, which triggered the flooding, is now heading out to sea south of Sydney. 

 

Four people are now known to have died in the severe weather, after a toddler（学步的小孩） who was hit by a falling tree in Brisbane died on Monday. 

 

It comes two years after severe flooding in southern Queensland, including in the state capital Brisbane, that left 35 people dead and tens of thousands of homes flooded. 

 

 

In Bundaberg the Burnett River was at 9.475m and rising slowly, the Bureau of Meteorology said in a statement, with a peak up to 9.6m expected later in the day - more than 1.5m above the December 2010 flood level. 

 

"Those flood levels will be one of the highest levels recorded for the whole of the Bundaberg and Burnett region," said Queensland Police Minister Jack⁵ Dempsey. 

 

"The main priority at the moment on the ground is life and we really do implore⁶ people to go to the highest points, listen to the emergency service workers and their directions."

 

Some 7,500 people are reported to have been displaced across the city, with more than 1,500 in evacuation centres. 

 

Helicopter teams have picked up more than 1,000 people stranded⁷ by flood waters amid fears that houses could be washed away.

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