Holidaymakers enjoying Victoria's iconic Surf Coast have recounted terrifying moments as flash flooding surged through campgrounds, giving them little time to escape. The sudden deluge, which saw a record-breaking 180mm of rain fall in just six hours, turned popular tourist spots into dangerous waterways.
Record-Breaking Deluge Triggers Rapid Emergency
The intense rainfall hit the catchments of the Wye, Kennett, and Cumberland rivers in the Lorne area on Thursday afternoon. Floodwaters rose to thigh height in as little as ten minutes, sweeping away cars, trucks, and caravans at the peak tourist destination. The State Emergency Service was forced to conduct multiple rescues for people trapped inside caravans.
Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain described the scenes as "extraordinary and terrifying." She confirmed the downpour was the highest for any 24-hour period in the area since site records began in the early 2000s.
Community Response and Ongoing Closures
Hundreds of holidaymakers were evacuated, with an emergency relief centre at Stribling Reserve in Lorne accommodating about 200 people from the affected campgrounds. Surf Coast Shire Mayor Libby Stapleton praised the swift action of the local community, particularly the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club, for providing immediate shelter, food, water, and blankets.
As of Friday, campgrounds at Lorne, Cumberland, and Wye River remain closed while emergency crews assess safety risks. Mayor Stapleton warned of ongoing dangers from floodwater, electrocution, and biological hazards, indicating it "may be some time before people can actually get back in there."
Clean-Up Begins as State Faces Dual Disasters
The massive clean-up operation is now underway and is expected to take weeks. Access remains restricted, with the Great Ocean Road open from Torquay to Lorne but closed south of Lorne to Skenes Creek. The section between Lorne and Apollo Bay will be off-limits for some time.
Meanwhile, other parts of Victoria continue to battle bushfires, highlighting the state's extraordinary weather extremes. More than 410,000 hectares have burned, destroying almost 900 structures, including 259 homes. Alistair Drayton from the State Emergency Service summed up the conflicting conditions, stating, "I've come from a fire to a flood zone in one day."
Authorities report no serious injuries or missing persons from the floods. Communities remain on high alert with more rain forecast in the coming days.
