Melbourne (ANTARA News/AAP-OANA) - The official death toll from the Queensland flood disaster has now reached 15, with the discovery of another body in the Lockyer Valley region, west of Brisbane.

"Police have now discovered the body of a male person at Myall Creek," Queensland Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts told a media briefing.

Mr Roberts said the total number of people missing was 61, with grave fears for another 12.

Earlier on Thursday, Premier Anna Bligh announced the first fatality confirmed in Brisbane.

She said a 24-year-old man had been checking his father`s inundated property in suburban Durack when he was sucked down a storm drain.

"... he shouldn`t have been in those waters, and unfortunately it`s claimed his life," she told reporters.

"Please stay safe out there, it`s a dangerous place right now.

"We`ve already had one death. Let`s not see any more as a result of Brisbane`s flooding."

Ms Bligh warned people to obey closure signs because the situation was still very dangerous in and around the streets and suburbs of Brisbane and Ipswich.

"Underneath those floodwaters are rapidly moving dangerous, sharp objects. Walking through waters even only up to your ankles can mean that you`ll be at risk of serious injury," she said.

"I do understand how keen everybody is to get back into their houses, to go out and have a look at what`s happened to their neighbourhoods, (but) these are still rapidly moving, swirling, dangerous waters," the premier said.

The official death toll is expected to rise on Thursday as searchers finally reach small towns in the Lockyer Valley.

A man`s body was found in a field on a farm near Grantham on Thursday.

"Unfortunately I`ve got to warn Queenslanders we`ve got to brace ourselves for more bad news," state disaster coordinator Ian Stewart said earlier on Thursday.

"That is because we are now getting emergency services personnel and police into some of the more remote areas of the Lockyer Valley where we haven`t been able to get to until now.

"I am sure we, as we go through this process of meticulously searching some of the very isolated areas and remote farm houses, buildings that have collapsed and waterways, unfortunately will receive more bad news in relation to victims of this very tragic event."

Earlier, he said grave fears were held for 12 people, most of them from two families, in the Murphys Creek area. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011