Australian Flooding Claims 1 Victim

VOA Breaking News (Voice of America)
2 January 2011 at 6:05 am

Massive flooding in northeastern Australia claimed its first life Sunday, when searchers found the body of a woman swept away while trying to drive across a swamped causeway.

Police say the 41-year-old woman's car was swept into a river Saturday night in Burketown, in Queensland state.

Officials say up to 200,000 people have been affected by the floods, which have covered an area larger than France and Germany combined.

Although flood waters have started to recede in some areas, many towns remain cut off and forecasters say some have yet to see water levels peak.