13 January 2011Last updated at 00:48

Queensland rebuilding 'huge task'

An aerial view of a flooded suburban area of Brisbane on 13 January 2011

Residents of Brisbane have been experiencing the heavy flooding that has already hit other parts of Queensland. More than 25,000 homes in the city were fully or partially flooded by Thursday.

A factory on a flooded industrial estate in the Brisbane suburb of Yeerongpily on 13 January 2011

The floods peaked on Thursday below the levels people had feared, but the Queensland State Premier Anna Bligh said reconstruction costs would reach "post-war proportions".

Tons of debris including boats cast adrift on the floodwaters have been racing past partially submerged districts of the city, which has a population of about two million.

A pontoon is seen wedged into a jetty in the Brisbane suburb of New Farm on 13 January 2011

Pontoons were dragged into the roaring Brisbane River, which has burst its banks in several places.

Residents look at a flooded street in the Brisbane suburb of New Farm on 13 January

Many of the suburbs in Brisbane, Australia's third largest city, have been flooded, while power has been cut off to tens of thousands of homes.

Albion Park raceway in Brisbane is covered by floodwater on 13 January 2011

Sports facilities such as Albion Park raceway in Brisbane and many commercial properties have been hit by the flooding.

The Brisbane suburb of New Farm is one of many communities in Queensland inundated after weeks of torrential rain.

Evacuation centre in Brisbane on 12 Jan 2011

Thousands of Brisbane residents have been sleeping in emergency centres after evacuating their homes.

Statue of Queensland's famous former rugby league star Wally Lewis wearing snorkel

Despite the dire situation, someone in Brisbane with a sense of humour kitted out this statue of famous former rugby league star Wally Lewis with a snorkel and armbands.

A man carries a kangaroo after rescuing it from floodwaters in Ipswich, near Brisbane. Photo: 12 January 2011

West of Brisbane, the city of Ipswich was swamped by flood waters in a situation described as "total chaos". Here, a city resident is seen rescuing a kangaroo.

Asia-Pacific

Queensland rebuilding 'huge task'

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