Concern again with rivers nearing the banks in Brisbane plus also Bundaberg, Queensland with waters just off Sydney very turbulent.

The deadly flood crisis is escalating across southern Queensland and New South Wales, as Brisbane and Bundaberg brace for river peaks.

High seas are likely along the New South Wales Coast today and tomorrow with dangerous conditions for surfers and boaties expected.

AIR rescues of residents and hospital patients are continuing in Bundaberg, as Brisbane braces for the flood peak of the city’s swollen river.

But as the death toll from Queensland’s flood crisis rose to four, the city of Ipswich breathed a sigh of relief as hundreds of homes escaped inundation.

In Bundaberg, which yesterday was a major crisis point as people were airlifted from the roofs of homes by helicopter, 130 patients were today to be evacuated from the city’s hospital. Ten critically ill patients were flown out yesterday.

Two Defence force Hercules aircraft will today fly patients to hospitals in Brisbane.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman says homes in north Bundaberg could be washed off their stumps by the force of floodwaters and has urged any remaining residents to get out.

The disaster has claimed four lives in Queensland. A three-year-old boy died of his injuries after he and his mother were crushed by a tree in Brisbane’s north yesterday.

Bundaberg’s Burnett River has hit a record-breaking 9.3 metres and is expected to peak tonight. Two thousand properties have been flooded and mandatory evacuations are continuing in the city’s northern suburbs.

Brisbane has had its heaviest rain in 13 years with this event however other eastern parts of Queensland have seen record totals of 400mm.

Sydney saw heavy rain overnight with strong winds with some localised flooding issues however today conditions have eased across the board.

Weatherwatch.co.nz believes the rain has now moved into the Tasman sea but should dissipate before nearing New Zealand.

WeatherWatch, BOM & Weatherzone