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The largest nuclear power plant in Europe is on fire following a Russian attack, Ukraine's foreign minister says, as he called for a security zone and firefighters to be allowed to tackle the incident.

A generating unit at the plant has been hit during an attack by Russian troops and part of the station is on fire, RIA news agency cited the Ukrainian atomic energy ministry as saying on Friday.

A plant spokesperson told RIA that background levels of radiation had not changed.

"Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

"Fire has already broke out ... Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!"

There has been fierce fighting in the area about 550 kilometres southeast of Kyiv, the mayor of the nearby town of Energodar said in an online post. He said there had been casualties, without giving details.

Russia has already captured the defunct Chernobyl plant, some 100 km north of Ukraine's capital Kyiv.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a tweet that it was "aware of reports of shelling" at the power plant and was in contact with Ukrainian authorities about situation.

Earlier, Ukrainian authorities reported Russian troops were stepping up efforts to seize the plant and had entered the town with tanks.

"As a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is on fire," Dmytro Orlov, mayor of the nearby town of Energodar, said on his Telegram channel, citing what he called a threat to world security. He did not give details.

Reuters could not immediately verify the information, including the potential seriousness of any fire.

As the biggest attack on a European state since World War Two enters its ninth day, thousands are thought to have died or been wounded, one million refugees have fled Ukraine and Russia's economy has been rocked by international sanctions.

On Thursday, the United States and Britain announced sanctions on more Russian oligarchs, following on from EU measures, as they ratcheted up the pressure on the Kremlin.

Sanctions have "had a profound impact already," said US President Joe Biden.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation" that is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its neighbour's military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists. It denies targeting civilians.

Russia and Ukraine earlier agreed to the need for humanitarian corridors to help civilians escape Moscow's eight-day-long invasion, the first apparent progress in talks, as the United States and Britain hit more oligarchs with sanctions.

Russian forces, however, have continued to surround and attack Ukrainian cities, including Mariupol, the main port in the east which has been under heavy bombardment, with no water or power. Officials say they cannot evacuate the wounded.

After talks at an undisclosed location, Russia said "substantial progress" had been made while the Ukrainian side pointed to an understanding on helping ordinary people, but not the results Kyiv had hoped for.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said a temporary halt to fighting in select locations was also possible.

"That is, not everywhere, but only in those places where the humanitarian corridors themselves will be located, it will be possible to cease fire for the duration of the evacuation," he said.

They had also seen eye-to-eye on the delivery of medicines and food to the places where the fiercest fighting was taking place. The negotiators will meet again next week, the Belarusian state news agency Belta quoted Podolyak as saying.

© DPA 2022

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Flood stricken communities across Queensland and NSW are being assisted by more than 2000 defence force personnel who will also take part in clean-up efforts.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton confirmed 103 people had been rescued by ADF helicopters since the flood crisis began.

But personnel are stretched over a geographically huge area spanning the south-east corner of Queensland and down the east coast toward western Sydney, he said.

"The effort on the ground is frustrated in some areas because it is inaccessible even to the ADF with their vehicles to get in and start the clean up," he told the Nine Network on Friday.

"There is a sense of reassurance when the ADF rolls into those streets, and they know that ... they understand the gravity they bring to a local area to boost spirits and to help people get back on their feet."

The Commonwealth is working with Queensland to deliver further support to flood-affected areas, asking the state government for a list of projects where funding is required to rebuild.

It comes as the federal government announced a joint $435 million support package with NSW on Thursday, with a second package in the works.

The package includes grants of up to $75,000 for primary producers and up to $50,000 for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

Large parts of Queensland and NSW remain underwater after heavy rain and flash flooding over the preceding days.

South-east Queensland remains on alert for life-threatening floods from dangerous thunderstorms after deluges killed nine people and damaged over 17,000 properties in the state.

In NSW, Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, South Coast and the Hunter region also remain on alert for more flooding.

The clean-up continues on the state's north coast in cities like Lismore, which was hit by the region's worst floods on record.

Shortages of critical supplies like food, fuel and fresh water also remain.

Supply chain problems caused by rising water blocking critical road and rail links led to the prime minister convening a roundtable with key ministers and officials on Thursday.

Defence chief Angus Campbell, Emergency Management Minister Bridget McKenzie and disaster assistance coordinator Joe Buffone attended.

Since the flooding, $62.7 million in disaster recovery payments have been provided in relation to 52,000 claims lodged with the federal government.

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Emergency Management Minister Bridget McKenzie says the flood damage bill is expected to enter the billions of dollars as stories of devastating losses continue to surface.

Farmers are unable to access dairy cattle, which need to be milked regularly, and many animals will need to be euthanised and their carcasses disposed of in a safe manner.

"Beyond the dairy industry, we heard from food processors (where floods) shut down 10 meat processing works which actually process a third to a quarter of Australia's red meat," Senator McKenzie said on Friday.

"Seven thousand people are employed in these 10 facilities that have been impacted by the floods so that is a significant concern."

Flood-stricken communities across Queensland and NSW are being assisted by more than 2000 defence force personnel who will also take part in clean-up efforts.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton confirmed 103 people had been rescued by ADF helicopters since the flood crisis began.

But personnel are stretched over a geographically huge area spanning the southeast corner of Queensland and down the east coast toward western Sydney, he said.

"The effort on the ground is frustrated in some areas because it is inaccessible even to the ADF with their vehicles to get in and start the clean up," Mr Dutton told the Nine Network on Friday.

"There is a sense of reassurance when the ADF rolls into those streets, and they know that ... they understand the gravity they bring to a local area to boost spirits and to help people get back on their feet."

Large parts of Queensland and NSW remain underwater after heavy rain and flash flooding over the preceding days.

Southeast Queensland remains on alert for life-threatening floods from dangerous thunderstorms after deluges killed nine people and damaged more than 17,000 properties in the state.

In NSW, Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, South Coast and the Hunter region also remain on alert for more flooding.

The clean up continues on the state's north coast in cities including Lismore, which was hit by the region's worst floods on record.

Shortages of critical supplies such as food, fuel and fresh water also continue as the first essential food and water supply drop arrived in the Lismore area on Friday.

The National Farmers Federation chief executive says the priority must be restoring access to flood-stricken communities, not only so people can return to their homes and take care of their livestock, but so essential supplies can enter as well.

"Roads, infrastructure must be the immediate priority so that people can get into those communities, get the food and fibre into the supply chains so it can get on supermarket shelves," Tony Mahar said.

"We need skills. We simply have to have the resources, we have to have people in those communities that are going to help recover, help manage and help build back better."

The financial sector is also working with federal authorities on ensuring access to cash, money and income when communications and electricity are down.

The Commonwealth is working with Queensland to deliver further support to flood-affected areas, asking the state government for a list of projects where funding is required to rebuild.

It comes as the federal government announced a joint $435 million support package with NSW on Thursday, with a second package in the works.

The package includes grants of up to $75,000 for primary producers and up to $50,000 for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

© AAP 2022

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The Commonwealth is working with Queensland to deliver further support to flood-affected areas, asking the state government for a list of projects where funding is required to rebuild.

It comes as the federal government announced a joint $435 million support package with NSW on Thursday, with a second package in the works.

The package includes grants of up to $75,000 for primary producers and up to $50,000 for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

Large parts of Queensland and NSW remain underwater after heavy rain and flash flooding over the preceding days.

Southeast Queensland remains on alert for life-threatening floods from dangerous thunderstorms after deluges killed nine people and damaged over 17,000 properties in the state.

In NSW, Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, South Coast and the Hunter region also remain on alert for more flooding.

The cleanup continues on the state's north coast in cities like Lismore which was hit by the region's worst floods on record.

Shortages of critical supplies like food, fuel and fresh water also remain.

Supply chain problems caused by rising water blocking critical road and rail links led to the prime minister convening a roundtable with key ministers and officials on Thursday.

Defence chief Angus Campbell, Emergency Management Minister Bridget McKenzie and disaster assistance coordinator Joe Buffone attended.

Since the flooding disaster, $62.7 million in disaster recovery payments have been provided in relation to 52,000 claims lodged with the federal government.

© AAP 2022