Prime Minister to visit flood-hit communities as disaster response steps up

Albanese has flown to the regional city of Townsville, where the 200,000 residents are beginning a huge clean-up, to see first hand the extent of the emergency.

The response by state and federal authorities has stepped up, but some communities remain cut off by the floodwaters.

The federal government yesterday announced financial help for the local government areas of Burdekin, Hinchinbrook, the Cassowary Coast, Palm Island and Townsville.

Those communities will now have access to 13 weeks of income support through the Disaster Recovery Allowance.

The Australian Defence Force is also on the ground, helping to build a temporary bridge on the flood-damaged Bruce Highway to allow vehicle access and supplies into isolated communities that have been cut off.

Albanese yesterday confirmed there are an additional four helicopters flying in essential supplies and providing other assistance.

Meanwhile in the town of Ingham, about 100km north of Townsville, some people remain trapped in their homes as their streets remain submerged.

They’re reliant on neighbours to deliver basic of supplies.

But residents in other parts of the town are able to start the clean up, dealing with the furniture tossed around their properties and throwing out their damaged possessions.

There are also fears for a man missing in Ingham last seen being swept away on Tuesday evening.

Despite aerial and ground searches, he remains unaccounted for.

The death toll from the disaster remains at two.

An 82-year-old woman was discovered dead when floodwaters receded at a cane paddock in Bemerside, near Ingham, on Tuesday.

On Sunday, a 63-year-old woman died in Ingham when an SES boat carrying volunteers and residents hit a tree and flipped into the water.

Weather forecasters are warning more heavy rain is on the way for Far North Queensland as the monsoon trough lingers over the region. It could bring storms in Cairns, Townsville and Hamilton Island.