Rivers continue to rise in Victoria threatening thousands of homes, forcing more evacuations, cutting towns off from civilization, and leaving communities without power.

The crisis comes as Australia’s east coast braces for further thunderstorms this week, renewing flooding fears for Victoria, as well as New South Wales and Tasmania.

In total there are just over 60 flood warnings in place across Victoria, stretching just north of Melbourne to the NSW border – and the water keeps on surging.

There’s major concern for the regional centre of Shepparton today, with the Goulburn River expected to peak at a record 12.2 metres some time this morning.

But Today reporter Christine Ahern explained another situation is unfolding as saturated catchments merge into one other.

“It’s sitting just under that at the moment but we have a situation where creeks are converging with the river system and the water is also coming up through the drains,” she said.

“The prediction from authorities is over 7000 homes will be impacted in the Greater Shepparton area; 2,500 of those inundated.”

The SES says they have performed 173 rescues just in the last 24-hours alone; the majority around Shepparton.

Victoria Emergency has issued an alert to residents in low-lying areas along the Campaspe River from Barnadown to Rochester to move to higher ground as the river is still in major flood.

Dozens of homes are already underwater at Echuca, with the Campaspe River peaking yesterday afternoon.

“The Campaspe River at Echuca peaked around 96.25 m Australian Height Datum (AHD) late Sunday afternoon, with major flooding and is currently at 96.18 metres and falling slowly with major flooding,” The Bureau of Meterology (BoM) wrote.

Today reporter Izabella Staskowski said there are fears Echuca could go under again in coming days.

And the neighboringing townships of Mooroopna and Kialla are cut off from each other.

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Mooroopna’s power station had to be switched off yesterday as it went under, so thousands of residents will be without power for days.

Dozens of roads have been closed across the state after floodwater inundated them.

About 100 defence personnel have been deployed to the state to help with evacuations and sandbagging.

Flooding across Tasmania’s north and north east is also causing destruction.

There are several flood warnings still in effect for the state with areas around the Meander River and Macquarie River on highest alert.

Floods are also threatening central western NSW, with 75 SES warnings in place across the state.

“The focus over the next 24 hours will be the mid Murray and Edward Rivers,” it said in a statement.

“Flood levels have already exceeded the 2016 levels and are looking to exceed the 1993 flood levels at Ecucha and Moama. Other locations significantly affected include Forbes, Narrandera, Wee Waa, Warren, Nanami, Jemalong and Barham.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced one-off flood payments for flood victims across Tasmania and Victoria.

The affected can access payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child.

“”This support is of course small compensation but it does mean people are getting that support on the ground and we will make that available,” he said.

“And that information will be available from [Sunday] afternoon to ensure the money can flow immediately.”

The payments come in addition to disaster recovery allowances already available in the states.