Rising floodwaters have stranded more than 50,000 people in eastern Australia, as torrential rain pummels water-logged towns for a second day and engorged rivers swallowed roads, leaving two dead.

Rising floodwaters stranded more than 50,000 people in eastern Australia on Thursday, as torrential rain pummelled water-logged towns for a second day and engorged rivers swallowed roads, leaving two dead.