Temporary morgues are being set up west of Bri*****ane as health authorities prepare for the arrival of those killed in Queensland’s latest flood ordeal.
Meanwhile, residents in Bri*****ane's low-lying suburbs have been told to evacuate now, rather than wait until the situation becomes too dire.
"We don't need people struggling at midnight; we need them to start now, the latest by this afternoon, to be either out of their homes or close to it," Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said.
Further west, it is understood the Australian Defence Force is working at Toowoomba Hospital to set up a morgue for at least 20 bodies resulting from Monday's flash flooding.
Premier Anna Bligh held a press conference this morning calling the floods the ‘‘worst natural disaster in our history’’.
Local sources have told Fairfax Media that a number of bodies have been identified in the Toowoomba area but have not yet been retrieved.
At least 10 people have died so far, with authorities today revising down the number of people missing in the Lockyer Valley to 67 after 20 people were found today.
A Queensland Health spokeswoman said hospitals would have the facilities "to cope with what we need to cope with’’.
Whole Bri*****ane suburbs to go under
Bri*****ane residents have been warned complete suburbs could go under, as floodwaters begin to inundate riverside homes and the pontoon of the award-winning Drift Cafe on the river floats away.
Translink has advised no buses will run through the CBD from 1pm today until further notice.
Bri*****ane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said new flood modelling indicated 19,700 residential properties and 3500 commercial premises in 2100 streets were likely to be flooded in the city.
And the 6500 homes on the first flood warning list, issued yesterday, are likely to be severely affected.
‘‘For the low-lying areas, for the ones that were on the original list, those properties are going to go under to a significant extent,’’ Cr Newman told the Seven network this morning.
‘‘In 1974 there were properties in Yeronga, for example, that went completely under. That’s what we’re staring at."
Earlier this morning, the entire CBD of Ipswich was completely closed off, while a quarry filled with water collapsed in the town of Fernvale, flooding homes and stranding hundreds of people.
The inner-Bri*****ane suburb of Fairfield was this morning cut in half, with dozens of homes breached, while homes were also inundated in Chelmer and the river broke its banks at Indooroopilly and Yerongpilly.
At one Fairfield shopping centre, only the tip of a Telstra phone box was visible, with traffic lights just peeking above the surface as the waters continued to rise.
Prominent riverside restaurant Drift Cafe, formerly Oxley's On The River, has been almost completely submerged in water, with the pontoon washing away towards the city.
And all guests have been evacuated from the Stamford Plaza hotel, as floodwaters threaten the nearby City Botanic Gardens.
Earlier reports of Suncorp Stadium being on fire were incorrect. Two transformers in an isolated part of the stadium were on fire but have been dealt with.
More than 50,000 customers in southeast Queensland were this morning without power, including 22,000 in Ipswich and more than 15,000 in Bri*****ane.
As the rain of recent days gave way to blue skies in Bri*****ane, Premier Anna Bligh told Sky News the break in the weather would allow rescue workers to search for the 90 now missing.
She said it would be a "gruesome day for rescue workers and a heartbreaking day for families’’ who are still missing loved ones.
"I think we will all be shocked by what they will find,’’ she said.
The number of missing in the devastating Queensland floods has now risen from 72 to 90, she said, with the confirmed death toll at 10. The missing include entire families.
A second Bri*****ane evacuation centre has been set up at the Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre (formerly ANZ Stadium and QEII Stadium) to add to the existing one at the RNA Showgrounds.
It’s possible a third, and maybe a fourth, centre will be opened throughout the day.
‘‘I don’t want to be in a position where we can’t look after evacuees who turn up on our doorsteps,’’ Cr Newman said.
Ipswich inundated
The rising Bremer River has submerged numerous homes and businesses in Ipswich, with evacuations centres overflowing, Mayor Paul Pisasale said.
The mayor was furious after hearing of several reports of looting taking place in flood-affected areas.
“If I find anybody looting in our city they will be used as flood markers,” he said.
The Coles supermarket was inundated to a depth of 2.44 metres, with just the awning and store logo showing above the floodwaters which continue to rise.
The Bremer River had risen to 18.9 metres at 7.30am this morning, but the expected peak has been revised from 22m to 20.5m, 20cm below the 1974 peak of 20.7m.
However, Ms Bligh said residents should remember the city was a very different place from 1974, with much more development.
Sign of things to come
Ms Bligh said it was a sign "of things to come" in the days ahead with the Bri*****ane River expected to peak at 4.5m today and eclipse 1974 levels at 5.5m tomorrow.
She warned local residents to stay off roads if possible.
‘‘This incident is not a tourist event - this is a deeply serious natural disaster,’’ Ms Bligh said.
‘‘Stay in your homes - do not travel unless it is absolutely necessary."
Major flooding is also expected across the border in NSW today. With the Clarence River expected to peak at seven metres, evacuations are underway in Grafton.
Wild torrent carries debris
There are major concerns for safety on the Bri*****ane River as debris and boats are whipped along in the churning maelstrom.
The fast-moving currents ripped whole sections of jetties away, sending them spinning downstream in the raging torrents.
The water had entirely engulfed the lower promenade at Eagle Street Pier, in the city’s entertainment precinct, flooding dozens of restaurants and threatening many more.
Energex yesterday advised power to low-lying parts of the CBD would be cut from 8.30am, closing many workplaces.
Police have warned against any non-essential travel to the city.
All South East Queensland Water dams were reportedly safe and stable overnight.
Queensland Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said Bri*****ane port would be closed "to all but emergency situations".
with AAP
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/weather/makeshift-morgues-set-up-as-death-toll-to-worsen-20110112-19my3.html