THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE have been forced to evacuate their homes in Queensland, Australia amid rising floodwaters.

The local government yesterday ordered residents of St George to leave town as floodwaters continued to rise.

The town has been cut off after the Queensland government’s disaster management agency announced today that the main highway is flooded.

Concerns are also growing over the strength of a flood levee in Charleville which appears to be leaking and in danger of collapsing.

This report from Australia’s Ten News shows efforts to stem the flooding as the evacuation got underway yesterday:

(Video via ten)

The Herald Sun reports that the woman cited as missing in the above video, Jane Sheahan, has been confirmed dead after her body was recovered from the water today. She and her young son were both in danger of being swept away in their car by the water on Friday and she urged onlookers to save her son first.

However, Sheahan was pulled away before she could also be rescued.She is the first victim of this year’s flooding in Queensland.

The flooding has been caused by weeks of heavy rain. Last year, over 30 people were killed in storms and heavy flooding in Queensland.