Storm warning is fresh misery for Australia flood victims

The flood-hit state of Queensland was braced for more storms and flash floods today as forecasters predicted up to another three inches of rain.

Barges and planes were being used to transport food, medical supplies and bottled water to 200,000 people in more than 20 cut-off towns.

In the coastal town of Rockhampton, waters from the still-swelling Fitzroy river closed the airport and cut the main highway to the state capital of Brisbane. Scores of families abandoned their homes for flood relief centres on high ground.

Floodwaters have inundated the last route into the city, Queensland premier Anna Bligh said: "Rockhampton is now completely stranded — a town of 75,000 people — no airport, rail or road."

She told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio: "The worst is still to come. Supplying them with food, ensuring that we keep them safe during this flood is absolutely critical. Given the scale and size of this disaster, and the prospect that we will see waters sitting potentially for a couple of weeks, we will continue to have major issues to deal with throughout January."

A C-130 military plane was scheduled to fly to a town north of Rockhampton and its cargo taken by truck to the stricken city.