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A huge search-and-rescue operation was mounted, with helicopters winching people to safety. Many residents clung for their lives to trees or railings, or were trapped in cars or on the roofs of buildings.
At least two of the dead were children, and Prime Minister Julia Gillard has warned that the death toll is likely to rise.
Ms Bligh called the flash floods Queensland's "darkest hour" since the floods began at the end of November.
"This has been a night of extraordinary events," Ms Bligh told a news conference on Tuesday.
"We've seen acts of extreme bravery and courage from our emergency workers. We know they're out on the front line desperately trying to begin their search-and-rescue efforts, and we know we have people stranded and people lost," she said.
She called the event "a complete freak of nature", saying the flooding had come "out of nowhere".
Toowoomba mayor Peter Taylor told BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday: "We're working 24 hours a day responding on a emergency number for people who need any assistance in terms of evacuation."
Toowoomba resident Charlie Green told the BBC he was stranded by the floods.
"It would be ironic if it wasn't so tragic," he said. "Toowoomba sits in the cradle of an extinct volcano about 2,000ft (610m) above sea level, and we have just endured 10 years of drought, unable even to wash our cars with town water for the last several years."
The flooding has been so widespread that while some communities are still bracing themselves for the worst, in others the clean-up is well under way.
The forecast is for more rain to come, and there are reports of flooding in neighbouring New South Wales.
Are you in Toowoomba or Brisbane? Have you been affected by the flooding in Queensland? You can send us your stories and experiences using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here
Hope it well be better soon.
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