Hundreds evacuated as flood disaster unfolds in northeastern Australia

CAIRNS - Stranded residents sheltered on a hospital roof as flash floods swamped northeastern Australia on Monday, with raging waters severing roads and flushing crocodiles into towns. 

Rescue teams evacuated more than 300 people overnight, police said, and military helicopters were dispatched to help inundated areas cut off by the floods.

Damage was reported along an expanse of coastline that stretched about 400 kilometres across northern Queensland.

With another deluge expected Monday, Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick said the unfolding disaster would have a "billion-dollar impact" on the state. 

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said flood waters would likely wash "crocs and all sorts of other things" into residential areas. 

"You would recall from past events we've had sharks, crocs, you name it," she told reporters. 

Wildlife officers in the rural town of Ingham used a lasso to catch a crocodile that had been bathing in shallow water next to houses.