An aerial image showing properties inundated by floodwaters in Emerald, Queensland, 31 December 2010. EPA/JONO SEARLE/POOL
An aerial view of properties inundated by floodwaters in Emerald, a town in the state of Queensland, Australia, Dec. 30, 2010. It is estimated that 80 per cent of the town and 8000 residents are affected by the floods, with flood levels expected to peak 31 Dec at 16.2 metres. EPA/LISA MARTIN
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh greets the Prime Minister Julia Gillard (left) at Bundaberg Airport in Queensland, 31 December 2010. Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the premier toured the flood-hit city of Bundaberg, where levels are slowly falling after the worst flooding in almost four decades. SES personnel and disaster coordinators are being shipped in from interstate to relieve exhausted staff who've spent the week dealing with the unprecedented, multibillion dollar disaster. Thousands of people have been forced from homes with an unknown number of houses invaded by the dirty tide that has swept across the central and southern regions. EPA/KYM AGIUS
An aerial image showing properties inundated by floodwaters in Emerald, Queensland, 31 December 2010. More than 200,000 people have already been affected by the worst flooding in the state's recorded history, which has hit an area bigger than France and Germany combined. SES personnel and disaster coordinators are being shipped in from interstate to relieve exhausted staff who've spent the week dealing with the unprecedented, multibillion dollar disaster. Thousands of people have been forced from homes with an unknown number of houses invaded by the dirty tide that has swept across the central and southern regions. EPA/JONO SEARLE/POOL AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh (C-L) and Prime Minister Julia Gillard (C) meet locals at the civic centre in Bundaberg in Queensland, 31 December 2010. Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the premier toured the flood-hit city of Bundaberg, where levels are slowly falling after the worst flooding in almost four decades. SES personnel and disaster coordinators are being shipped in from interstate to relieve exhausted staff who've spent the week dealing with the unprecedented, multibillion dollar disaster. Thousands of people have been forced from homes with an unknown number of houses invaded by the dirty tide that has swept across the central and southern regions. EPA/JONO SEARLE/POOL
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh (R) looks on as the Prime Minister Julia Gillard (C) embraces local Sandy Kiddle at the evacuation centre in Bundaberg at Bundaberg Airport in Queensland, 31 December 2010. Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the premier toured the flood-hit city of Bundaberg, where levels are slowly falling after the worst flooding in almost four decades. SES personnel and disaster coordinators are being shipped in from interstate to relieve exhausted staff who've spent the week dealing with the unprecedented, multibillion dollar disaster. Thousands of people have been forced from homes with an unknown number of houses invaded by the dirty tide that has swept across the central and southern regions. EPA/KYM AGIUS
An aerial view of properties inundated by floodwaters in Emerald, a town in the state of Queensland, Australia, Dec. 30, 2010. It is estimated that 80 per cent of the town and 8000 residents are affected by the floods, with flood levels expected to peak 31 Dec at 16.2 metres. EPA/LISA MARTIN
A local resident canoes across flood waters in Bundaberg, in the Australian state of Queensland Dec. 29, 2010. Queensland's unprecedented flood crisis is worsening as residents of Bundaberg and Emerald evacuate ahead of record floods. EPA/JEFF CAMDEN/POOL
A view of residential area submerged by flood waters in Bundaberg, Australia, 29 December 2010. Queensland's unprecedented flood crisis is worsening as residents of Bundaberg and Emerald evacuate ahead of record floods. EPA/JEFF CAMDEN / POOL
Posters of (L-R) Brazilian President-elected Dilma Rousseff, Bolivian President Evo Morales and Australian founder of WikiLeaks Julian Assange are seen among ritual items during a ceremony held by shamans for good luck during 2011 in Lima, Peru, 29 December 2010. EPA/PAOLO AGUILAR
An aerial view of properties inundated by floodwaters in Emerald, a town in the state of Queensland, Australia, Dec. 30, 2010. It is estimated that 80 per cent of the town and 8000 residents are affected by the floods, with flood levels expected to peak 31 Dec at 16.2 metres. EPA/LISA MARTIN
Seventy-nine year old local resident Deryk Roth stands outside his flooded home in East Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia Dec. 29, 2010. The state's unprecedented flood crisis is worsening as residents of Bundaberg and Emerald towns evacuate ahead of record floods. ( EPA/LISA MARTIN
