As a severe weather system continues to hammer Australia's east coast, triggering evacuations and school closures, the death toll from rising floodwaters has risen to eight.

Two males were washed away in floodwaters in Queensland on Monday, according to Queensland police. One was discovered dead in Brisbane's northwestern suburbs, while the other was found in a Gold Coast rural community, according to media reports. As floodwaters continue to rise, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said more than 1,540 people are already in evacuation shelters across the southeast. She also stated that flooding may harm 18,000 houses and that almost 1,000 schools may be temporarily halted. 

The Queensland Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) warned that the state's highest rainfall total was 530 mm, and the heavy rain is expected to persist for the next several days. Heavy rains and floods are threatening the state of New South Wales, extending the terrible weather emergency even further south. Residents in Lismore, in northern NSW, were advised to evacuate when the levee was breached early Monday morning.

People are stuck in their homes and on roofs, according to Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg, who described the situation as "extremely serious and life-threatening."  "Unfortunately, the weather has turned out to be far worse than anticipated... They (volunteer organisations) are attempting to assist folks as quickly as possible "In a statement, Krieg stated.

The river in Lismore has surpassed its 1974 record of 12.15m, according to the National meteorological, and might reach 14.40m later Monday. This would also be higher than the 1954 record flood level of 12.27m.

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