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14 January 2011
Last updated at
10:32
In pictures: Brisbane flood clean-up
As the floodwaters retreat from Australia's third largest city, Brisbane residents are returning to their homes and businesses to take stock of the damage wrought by the state's worst flooding in decades.
The murky brown waters that covered some buildings up to their roofs have drained away to leave a stinking, putrid sludge.
People are now beginning the heartbreaking task of sifting through their ruined possessions and trying to salvage what they can.
Queensland State Premier Anna Bligh said there was "a lot of heartache and grief" as people saw for the first time the extent of the damage.
More than 26,000 homes were flooded in Brisbane - 11,900 of them completely inundated - leaving owners homeless for weeks or possibly months.
Residents are using pumps to remove water, and are hosing down muddied floors and stairs to try to stop the mud baking hard in the hot sun.
Homeowners have thrown out carpets and furniture thickly coated in mud, while businesses have dumped their spoiled stock and rubbish in the streets.
Hundreds of volunteers have arrived in Brisbane's flooded areas to help people clean-up their houses and keep them going with supplies of free food in a show of camaraderie.
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