WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Monday that the US is ready to help Australia which is hit hard by flooding.

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"Australia is an important partner and close friend of the United States and we stand ready to provide assistance," the top US envoy said in a statement.

She added that "On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I offer my condolences for the loss of life and damage in Queensland caused by the recent flooding. Our embassy in Canberra is monitoring the situation and has been in contact with Australian authorities."

Australian media said that floods have claimed ten lives since the end of November and early assessments of Queensland's agriculture sector put the cost at more than one billion Australian dollars in lost production.