Two found dead in Townsville flood

Two bodies have been found in an open drain in disaster-declared Townsville as the flood crisis engulfing the north Queensland city rolled into its 11th day.

The bodies found near a library yesterday are believed to be two men last seen when the peak of the floodwaters cascaded through the city on Monday.

The tragic news comes amid tentative signs of an end in sight for the flood-stricken city where victims are contemplating what they’ve lost and the long, messy clean-up ahead.

The Bruce Highway reopened yesterday, allowing a backlog of trucks to head for the city carrying much needed supplies of fruit, vegetables and other supplies.

Planning for the city’s recovery is well under way, despite concerns about more flash flooding.

And while the flood risk will continue for the rest of the week, forecasters say an end to the disaster is in sight.

Residents have been told not to try to return to their sodden homes until authorities tell them it’s safe to do so.

The monsoon trough that delivered disaster to Townsville has also generated floods out west, with farmers around Cloncurry, McKinlay and Flinders shire reporting livestock losses.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll said it was impossible to know how many homes had gone under across the city.

‘‘It’s easily hundreds, it could be thousands,’’ she said, but added audit teams were being hampered by the enduring risk of flash floods hitting with each new deluge.

The Bureau of Meteorology says the flood risk will continue for the rest of the week.

’’... potentially easing over the weekend – there is an end in sight,’’ Dr Richard Wardle from the bureau said.

But communities from Cardwell to Mackay could still see heavy and very heavy falls in coming days.

Police are still hunting for two men in Townsville amid fears they may have entered flood waters but there was a possible sighting of one of them.

The pair was seen near the site of a bottle shop looting incident in flooded Aitkenvale on Monday, but their families say they have not heard from them.

‘‘They were involved in another police investigation,’’ State Disaster Coordinator and Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Gee said. ‘‘I cannot confirm that any of them actually entered floodwaters.’’ – AAP

Hughie Morton, left, and Troy Mathieson, right, were missing and were last seen near a flooded area in Townsville. Two bodies gave been found in the area.