Several Australian towns flooded, 3 people killed

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Torrential rain over the weekend flooded several towns in eastern Australia, and three deaths were reported Monday.

Downtown businesses in the Queensland state capital Brisbane were inundated while 1,200 properties were flooded by record-high waters in the city of Bundaberg 385 kilometers (240 miles) to the north.

Helicopters were used to rescue 18 people from the roofs of their homes in Bundaberg, Australian Associated Press reported. The town's population is 98,000.

Queensland police on Monday confirmed that three people had died in flood waters since the weekend.

There was also flooding in the Queensland towns of Gladstone, Gympie and Ipswich.

The heavy rain was caused by the remnants of a tropical cyclone that hit the country last week and also brought severe weather including tornadoes. Several high-water rescues have taken place.