<p><br /> It is feared almost 20,000 homes in Brisbane are set to be swamped as river levels are expected to peak.<br /> </p><p><br /> Massive floods have inundated the financial district, sparking panic buying of food.<br /> </p><p><br /> Authorities are searching for nearly 70 people who are missing while the floods have so far killed 16 people.<br /> </p><p><br /> People have been seen using paddled surfboards to get through the floodwaters, balancing their possessions on the decks, while boats ferried evacuees to dry ground.<br /> </p><p><br /> In the nearby city of Ipswich, 3,000 homes have already been flooded and one third of the town is expected to be underwater at the peak.<br /> </p><p><br /> "The water is rising and swallowing up the city. It's really heartbreaking," said Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale.<br /> </p><p><br /> Dams built to protect communities are at bursting point. The Port of Brisbane is closed, shutting down Australia's third busiest container port and a major coal-loading facility.<br /> </p><p><br /> Australia is the world's biggest exporter of coking coal, which is used in steel manufacturing and accounts for more than half of global exports, and is also the second-biggest exporter of thermal coal used for power generation.<br /> </p><p><br /> Power company Energex shut power to some low-lying areas of Brisbane, including parts of the financial district, for fear that live power lines could electrify floodwaters.<br /> </p><p><br /> Showers are forecast to return next week, while the rains are starting to affect New South Wales state threatening to break their banks and forcing rural evacuations.<br /> </p>
