A grazier in a helicopter has rescued four tourists trapped in a car as the flood crisis gripping north Queensland intensifies.
The two Swiss and two German tourists are back on dry land after the private helicopter plucked them from floodwater near Middleton on Saturday.
Army personal assist a family evacuating rising flood waters in Rosslea, Townsville. Source: AAP
They were uninjured and had plenty of food when they activated their EBIRP distress beacon on Friday morning after their two vehicles were stranded by the flooded Diamantina River.
They are among thousands of people who have been stranded or forced to move after rivers burst their banks amid a massive monsoonal deluge.
More than the annual rainfall has been dumped on far north Queensland in the past eight days and with the trough hovering above Townsville on Saturday, the worst is yet to come over the next few days, the weather bureau says.
The big wet has already caused flash flooding and landslips in a disaster area stretching 700km along the coast from Cairns to Mackay.
In and around disaster-declared Townsville, which is the epicentre of the one-in-100 year event, there have been at least 38 rescues.
Overnight swift water rescue crews helped 80 people move to higher ground and they spent Saturday guiding more through flooded streets.
More than 400 army personnel have sandbagged vulnerable properties.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned the next 24 to 48 hours "are crucial" and urged people monitor warnings from authorities.
About 100 Townsville homes were evacuated near the bulging Ross River dam, which was at 211 per cent capacity at midday despite gates being opened to let water out.
Authorities assured locals it was built to hold the vast volumes.
The rain and flash flooding began a week ago causing power and phone outages, closing roads and businesses and inundating homes.
State Disaster Coordinator Bob Gee has urged people to seek safe places if they feel threatened, saying there were more than enough police out checking on property.
Floodwaters are seen at Aplins Weir in Townsville. Source: AAP
People have been urged to check emergency services and weather warnings which change regularly.
They were told to think about heading for higher ground on Saturday in areas near the Haughton, Herbert, Ross and Bohle rivers.
Flood warnings were also in place for numerous rivers including Black River and Bluewater Creek, the Burdekin River, Isaac River Catchment, Don River, Thomson and Barcoo rivers and Cooper Creek.
On Palm Island rain has impacted the water treatment plant and residents should boil all drinking water until further notice.
Further north, coastal communities on the Gulf of Carpentaria are preparing for the highest tides of year and gale force winds.
