Insurers have received the first few thousand claims from flooding in southwest Queensland, but an early estimate on costs to insurers won’t be available until next week.

The Queensland Government issued Emergency Alert messages for Charleville, Roma, Mitchell and the surrounding areas following floods which began in late January.

An evacuation order for St George was issued on Sunday as the Balonne River reached 13.48 metres.

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has declared a catastrophe for inundated communities in southwest Queensland. CEO Rob Whelan says several thousand inundation-related claims have been received over the past week.

ICA will work with Emergency Management Queensland and local authorities to help communities recover once the floodwaters recede.

Mr Whelan says it’s too early to estimate the cost to insurers, who would have a better idea of claims in the coming days and weeks.

Floods in northwest NSW are being monitored, but ICA has not yet decided whether to declare flooding there a catastrophe.