Recent open cut mines closed include Xstrata’s Rolleston, Yancoal Australia’s Minerva, BMA’s Blackwater, along with Jellinbah Resources’ and Ensham Resources’ namesake mines, according to Reuters.

Given the current level of uncertainty, a BHP Billiton spokesperson was succinct about the situation.

“Material impacts as a result of weather conditions will be included in our next quarterly production report,” she told ILN.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flood warning for the Fitzroy River Basin.

Showers and possible thunderstorms are forecast for the Central Highlands and Coalfields region of the state for today, up to and including Sunday.

Showers are forecast to hit the coal mining towns of Emerald, Clermont and Moranbah today with all of these locations at risk of an afternoon storm.

Yesterday the Queensland government extended relief arrangements to four more council areas, including the Isaac Regional Council and the Mackay Regional Council.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the damage estimate was $A161 million yesterday.

“But this figure is expected to increase as more damage is identified in the coming days and weeks,” he said.

Roberts added that state and federal funding was available to the affected councils to not only cover the cost of repairs, “but also any costs associated with managing counter disaster operations”