More than 250 Townsville homes unlivable as damage bill surpasses $120 million

The damage bill from Townsville's floods has reached $124 million, with 250 homes uninhabitable and more than 700 others severely damaged.

More than 250 Townsville homes have been left uninhabitable by flood damage. (AAP)

Almost 1000 Townsville homes have sustained severe flood damage and 252 of them are uninhabitable, with the damage bill now standing at $124 million.

The Insurance Council of Australia says the bill will continue to rise, as people return to sodden homes and businesses.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says authorities are scrambling to find emergency accommodation for families who face weeks or months out of their homes.

Residents pile up water-damaged items from their home as the clean up continues in Townsville. Source: AAP

"In relation to damage assessments in the Townsville area, 1480 have been done to date. Of these, 738 are quite severely damaged and 252 are completely uninhabitable," she told reporters on Thursday.

"That is sad news for families."

Some Townsville schools have also suffered severe structural damage, with assessments continuing at those sites.

About 200 people remain in evacuation centres.

"As of 10am today, insurers have received 10,064 claims, with insurance losses estimated at $124 million," the insurance council's Campbell Fuller told AAP on Thursday.