9 dead, 66 missing in Australia flash flood

Military helicopters searched Tuesday for scores of people missing after a tsunami-like wall of water ripped through an Australian valley, tossing cars like toys in the deadliest episode of a weeks-long flood crisis.

At least nine people were killed and officials held grave fears for 66 others still missing almost 24 hours after the flash flood hurled untold millions of gallons of water down Queensland state's Lockyer Valley on Monday, state Premier Anna Bligh said. The valley funneled rain from a freak storm - forecasters estimated up to 6 inches (150 millimeters) fell in half an hour fell near Toowoomba city - into a stream that formed a path of destruction, lifting houses from foundations. (AP)