January 16, 2008 - 9:15PM
Towns and cities in north Queensland were mopping up after a drenching from a monsoon low as further communities downstream braced for flooding.
The government estimated the damage bill as exceeding $12 million.
Charters Towers, south-west of Townsville, was clearing up and counting the cost of damage to homes, roads and other infrastructure after 192mm was dumped in the region in just two hours in what some residents described as a "mini cyclone".
About 50 homes and 18 businesses were inundated.
At Giru, south of Townsville, residents said the Haughton River peaked only centimetres below the level of their mostly high-set homes but floodwaters were now falling.
The weather bureau early this evening issued a warning for the Central Highlands and coalfields and the central west of the state, advising that thunderstorms and flash flooding were likely on Wednesday night.
The town of Aramac has received 191mm of rainfall since 9am (AEST).
Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) spokeswoman Gemma Marks said the focus of attention had now switched to the Longreach and Carnavon Gorge areas as floodwaters washed downstream through river systems.
"Most rivers are receding throughout the state and the weather bureau is not expecting too many more rises," Ms Marks said.
"But Carnavon and Longreach are the two areas we are keeping an eye on."
EMQ has issued an advisory to residents of flood-affected areas and visitors to avoid driving or swimming in flood waters due to possible dangers from hidden debris and snakes or from contamination from dead livestock.
Monsoonal rains in Queensland, Australia have caused massive flooding over two thirds of the state, and led Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts to declare the town of Emerald a disaster zone.

The floods, which first hit the north part of the state a week ago, have since spread as far south as Charleville, where they have been compared to the floods which struck the town in 1990 and 1997, and stand in stark comparison to the drought that has plagued the area since 2003. Authorities believe that temporary floodbanks, erected near the town, will hold back the waters.

More than 2,000 people have evacuated from Emerald, and more than 200 homes are on standby to evacuate. According to Acting Mayor Kerry Hayes, "the shopping centres are basically short of bottled water, bread and milk obviously and a lot of baby necessities", which will be brought in by rail as the town is currently cut off by road.

The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, who visited Charleville, has pledged federal support during the disaster. Damage from the floods is predicted to be as high as $A1 billion.