A surging river flooded and isolated the latest community hit in Australia’s deadly flood disaster today, straining a levee serving as the main protection between the muddy waters and residents’ homes.

AUTHORITIES told townspeople in Australia’s south-east to flee homes with three days of supplies yesterday, as a surging river threatened another community in a flooding crisis that has devastated the mining industry.

Authorities told towns people in Australia’s south east to flee homes with three days of supplies today as a surging river threatened another community in the flooding crisis that has devastated the country’s mining industry.

Knee-deep water inundated communities in south-eastern Australia and split one town in two today as swollen rivers carried flood fears downstream and officials urged residents to evacuate.

At least eight people were killed and dozens more seriously injured when a train crashed into a lorry at a level crossing in Australia.