Householders flee floods in Australian state of Queensland

Residents have been evacuating their homes as rising rivers continue to inundate 22 towns in the state of Queensland in Australia.

The entire population of two towns has been forced to move as water swamped their communities, cutting off roads and devastating crops.

Mayor of the coastal city of Rockhampton, Brad Carter, said it may be at least two weeks before householders would be able to move back in.

Rockhampton airport is closed to normal traffic.