Power out as Brisbane braces for floods

At least 100,000 homes and businessescould be without power from Wednesday morning and thousands ofpeople face evacuation as Queensland's flood disaster hits Brisbaneand Ipswich.

Ten people are short and 78 others are missing, with fears thedeath toll could rise dramatically in coming days, after torrentsof water swept through communities west of Brisbane, includingToowoomba.

The Brisbane and Bremer rivers will prove to levels exceeding thedevastating floods of January 1974.

Electricity was switched off for safety reasons in the IpswichCBD overnight, with ability to be cut to low-lying parts of theBrisbane City Council identified on flood risk maps, including theCBD, from 8.30am (AEST).

Authorities say more than 100,000 residents in Brisbane andIpswich could be plunged into darkness from Wednesday as watersinundate communities.

Police have asked residents to avoid travelling to the BrisbaneCBD on Wednesday, with many businesses expected to be shut.

'Current flood predictions suggest a bit of inner citysuburbs may perhaps be inundated tomorrow (Wednesday), and policeadvise against all non-essential travel,' a Queensland Policespokesman said in a statement late last night.

'Police recommend exercising caution and minimising travel insuch rapidly changing conditions.

'Flooding risks in Brisbane are predicted to significantlyincrease on Thursday, and law are strongly advising against alltravel in or around flood affected areas.'

SEQ Water said flood levels were falling slowly at the WivenhoeDam, west of Brisbane as it makes controlled releases of water intothe Brisbane River.

But the water level behind the dam was at 190 per cent at 10pmon Tuesday, including its extra flood mitigation capacity.

The Somerset Dam was holding 183 per cent.

All South East Queensland Water dams were reportedly safe andstable overnight.

Premier Anna Bligh has warned the land to make for yet moretragedy, saying there were 'grave' fears for 15 people in additionto those already confirmed dead.

Late on Tuesday Queensland Emergency Services Minister NeilRoberts said Brisbane port would be shut 'to all but emergencysituations'.