( CNN ) -- The number of people missing after flash floods swept cars off roads in the eastern Australian city of Toowoomba rose to more than 70 on Monday , with eight people confirmed dead , police in the state of Queensland reported . The latest flooding hit Toowoomba , about 125 kilometers ( 80 miles ) west of the state capital Brisbane and considerably south of other areas hit by recent floods . The Queensland Police Service confirmed that 72 people are now missing in the areas of Toowoomba and Lockyer Creek , and Chantelle Rule-Murphy , spokesperson for Emergency Management Queensland , said eight people have now been confirmed dead . iReport : Are you there ? Share your photos , video . Toowoomba is the biggest inland city in Queensland , a region that was already reeling from one of the worst floods in its history . Authorities there are conducting several search-and-rescue operations , and Australia 's military has committed four helicopters to those efforts , Rule-Murphy said . `` A lot of places are in high alert and we still expect a good deal of rain , so we are still not out of the woods yet , '' Queensland police spokesman Ben Tracy said . Since November 30 , the seasonal flooding in Queensland has caused rivers to spill over their banks and reach record levels . At least 200,000 people have been affected , and heavy rains are expected to continue moving into Tuesday . CNN 's John Raedler contributed to this report .
NEW : 72 people are now missing in latest Australia flooding . Eight people have been confirmed dead and 11 injured , police say . Prolonged flooding in northeast Australia has affected at least 200,000 people . Comment: