A woman has died and thousands of people have been urged to move to higher ground due to major flooding in northern Australia.

SYDNEY (dpa): Flood waters are rising in the Australian state of Queensland after heavy rainfall. The area between Townsville and Cairns in the north-east is particularly badly affected - a region that is also very popular with tourists. The coastal towns are considered the gateway to the world's largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef.

Fast-moving floodwaters rose Monday in northeastern Australia after forcing many to flee, blacking out homes, and sweeping away a chunk of a critical bridge.