australia floods
© AFPFloods sweeping across eastern Australia that have left four people dead
Floods sweeping across eastern Australia that have left four people dead and cost millions of dollars in crop losses could worsen next week, emergency officials warned Friday.

Some 30 regions have been declared natural disaster areas in New South Wales and more than 300 people have been isolated by the flood waters, but further storms are forecast for the nation's most populous state.

"The conditions are easing right now and over the weekend, but the flooding will potentially increase next week," a state emergency services spokesman told AFP.

"We are now monitoring very closely the Macquarie River, the Namoi river and the Murrumbidgee. If their levels rise, there's a potential to require evacuation."

The floods, which have also affected Victoria to the south and the northeastern state of Queensland are estimated to have cost 500 million dollars (493 million US) in crop losses in New South Wales alone.

Three people in Queensland and one woman in New South Wales have died in flood-related incidents since last week, prompting emergency services to urge people not to drive through the floods.

In Victoria, a major flood warning has been issued for two river regions, while Rockhampton, on the north Queensland coast, was bracing for possible floods early next week.