Thousands of Australians evacuated in Queensland floods

An aerial view shows the extent of flooding in the town of Emerald Photograph: Reuters

Red Cross volunteers prepare beds for evacuated residents in the town of Bundaberg Photograph: Jeff Camden/AFP/Getty Images

A wallaby is trapped by rising flood waters outside the town of Dalby Photograph: Anthony Skerman/AP

Bread is airlifted to residents of Emerald stranded by the floods Photograph: Philip Norrish/AFP/Getty Images

An aerial view of the flooding near the town of Watson Photograph: Jeff Camden/EPA

Australia's prime minister Julia Gillard (l) talks to the media in Bundberg as Queensland's premier, Anna Bligh, looks on Photograph: Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images

Chinchilla resident Jim Casey and his wife Lesley stand on their balcony Photograph: Jeff Camden/AP

Residents of the town of Chinchilla make their way by boat down a flooded street Photograph: Jeff Camden/EPA

A flooded bridge on the outskirts of Bundaberg Photograph: Jono Searle/AFP/Getty Images

Bundaberg resident Deryk Roth stands outside his flooded home Photograph: Lisa Martin/EPA

Rescue workers evacuate a resident of the town of Chinchilla from their flooded home Photograph: Jeff Camden /AP

An aerial view shows the extent of the flooding in the town of Dalby Photograph: Jeff Camden/AP

Floodwaters threaten to submerge roadsigns in the town of Bundaberg Photograph: Daniel Munoz/Reuters