Flash floods following a torrential overnight storm washed over towns in Queensland State in Australia Tuesday leaving at least 10 people dead and more than 70 missing, according to Australian officials.

Officials in Britain's third-largest city, Brisbane, have urged people to evacuate to higher ground.

Toowoomba, the largest inland city in Queensland and about 80 miles west of Brisbane, the state capital, was the latest place hit thanks to tropical strength rains in an otherwise drought-laden region. The water surge brought the overall death toll to 18 since rain began pounding the area in late November.

"This has been a night of extraordinary events," Anna Bligh, Queensland's premier, said. "This took everyone so unawares that there was no opportunity in most cases for people to get to safety. In all honesty, we hold very grave concerns for a number of these people who are not accounted for and we are anxiously worrying that we will see this toll rise."

Australian officials also said that many residents of the Lockyer Valley, between Toowoomba and Brisbane, have been left on rooftops and hills in "dire and critical circumstances." Officials are urging all residents east of Toowoomba to evacuate and head for higher ground to escape the rising waters.

Australia's Bureau of Meterology predicted more rain for the region on Tuesday.