Australia Will Need Rebuild of 'Postwar Proportions'

The premier of the Australian state of Queensland said Thursday that Brisbane, the country's third-largest city, looks like a "war zone" as flood waters finally are beginning to recede. "Queensland is reeling this morning from the worst natural disaster in our history and possibly in the history of our nation," Premier Anna Bligh said. "We've seen three-quarters of our state having experienced the devastation of raging floodwaters and we now face a reconstruction task of postwar proportions." Brisbane is still submerged in muddy water, and it will be weeks until residents can return to their homes and businesses and start the massive rebuilding effort. Twenty-five people have died in the flood since late November, and 61 are still missing.