INTENSE FLOODING IN Queensland, Australia, has led to about 1,000 people being evacuated from their homes – including the entire population of one town.

All of the 300 residents of the town of Theodore were forced to evacuate their homes yesterday, and had to be rescued by Australian defence forces Black Hawk helicopters.

Theodore and two other towns, Chinchilla and Dalby, have now been declared disaster zones.

Although the region has experienced the heaviest flooding since 1942 it seems that the worst is yet to come – as forecasters predict that the waters have not reached their peak. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said: “We want to make those arrangements so I’m there at the right time. Many communities’ efforts right now are on preparing for what will be the peak of the floodwaters or directly battling the floods.”

Helicopters are on standby and three evacuation centres have been organised in anticipation of the growing flood waters. Residents have been warned that it could be weeks before the flooding finally recedes.

The heavy flooding is expected to land the region with a multi-billion-dollar damages bill.