In Australia, the death toll from the flash flooding in the southern state of Queensland has risen to nine after another body was found, with about 66 people still missing. The state Premier Anna Bligh said the flood crisis has escalated as many towns in the state after yesterday's unprecedented flash flooding. Bligh said many people remained unaccounted for in the Lockyer Valley towns of Murphy's Creek, Grantham and Withcott, west of Brisbane and poor weather continued to hamper rescue efforts. The wall of water is making its way to Brisbane, where rain and storms are lashing the city and the biggest flood since 1974 is expected to arrive in the next two days. The Premier said the current predictions indicate the river will continue to rise with in two days with flood levels expected to be higher than the 1974 peak. Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said a total of 6,500 homes and businesses in Brisbane are expected to experience direct flooding and would affect 14,900 people, as forecasts show. The flood crisis has affected much of Queensland since the end of last year. Economists here said that the flood will bring about billions of dollars of damage to Australian economy.