Sydney ( CNN ) -- Vast flooding covering much of eastern Australia could remain for weeks , as more than 1,200 residents remain out of deluged homes Wednesday . As of late Wednesday night , the Fitzroy River was hovering around 9.2 meters ( 30 feet ) , CNN meteorologist Jennifer Delgado said . `` The river has crested , it appears , and it looks like it is going to be slowly falling as we go through the next several days , '' Delgado said . Are you there ? Send us your video and photos via iReport . By next week , floodwaters could remain at levels of about 8.5 meters ( 28 feet ) , Delgado said , but flooding could still affect the region for `` several weeks . '' The seasonal flooding in the state of Queensland intensified last month after monsoon rains caused rivers to spill over their banks and reach record levels . The floodwaters cover an area the size of France and Germany combined and now stretch into the state of New South Wales . Images from CNN affiliate Seven Network Australia showed residents traveling down the streets in boats . From the sky , the tops of houses and trees poked out from seas of murky brown water . Snakes whipped about from under the water 's surface . Flooding fueled by cyclone , La Nina . Neil Roberts , Queensland minister for police , corrective services and emergency services , said Wednesday that 1,200 to 1,500 people had to be evacuated in parts of Queensland . Roberts said some residents probably ca n't return to their homes for at least another week . He said the recovery could take `` many months , and potentially over a year . '' Roberts said the government had an emergency cabinet meeting Wednesday and appointed a major general to lead a recovery task force . The flooding has affected the global transport of commodities such as coal and steel , as rail lines used to move such goods out of Queensland have been destroyed . Forecasters predict even more rain in the coming days . Delgado said 20 centimeters ( 8 inches ) could fall through Thursday . On Tuesday , relief teams continued rushing supplies into the eastern city of Rockhampton . In some of the state 's more rural areas , farmers said they were scrambling to send tons of crops out before waters damaged them and flooding made their transport impossible . Police said 10 people have died as a result of flooding since November 30 -- many of them swept away by swift waters . An airport in Rockhampton , a city of about 75,000 people , closed Sunday and was expected to remain closed for weeks , according to Emergency Management Queensland . At least 200,000 people have been affected by prolonged flooding , police have said . Police have warned residents who have been allowed to return to their homes about placing valuables outside to dry , saying some people could be tempted to take such items . Additional police have been deployed to affected communities . Prime Minister Julia Gillard has urged residents to stay away from the floodwater . On Friday , she toured the devastation and said the flooding in Queensland will cost `` hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars . '' Journalist Michael Best contributed to this report .
NEW : A government official says up to 1,500 people are out of their homes . UK : Flooding can last for weeks . At least 10 people have died in England since November 2009 . The floodwaters cover an area the size of France and Germany combined .