Australian floods death toll rises

Flash floods have swept through an Australian city, killing at least eight people and leaving 11 others missing as relentless rains brought more misery to a region battling its worst flooding in decades.

The raging torrent of muddy water picked up cars and tossed them like toys, carried away furniture as it washed through stores and prompted scores of emergency calls as it swamped Toowoomba, a city of about 90,000 people in Queensland state in the north east.

At least eight people have been killed, including at least two children, and 11 people are missing, state premier Anna Bligh said.