On Thursday afternoon, police said their local officers and the Air Wing were responding to several incidents in the area.
“Of immediate concern were reports several vehicles had been swept out to sea, however we believe no one was inside any of the vehicles at the time,” police said.
“No one was sighted in the vehicles, and we currently don’t have any reports of missing people.”
“The Air Wing winched a man, aged in his 60s, from a roof in Cumberland River and we’re aware of reports a number of people sought refuge on the roof of the general store in Wye River; however, as water has now receded, they’ve been able to make their way off the roof.”
Police are also coordinating evacuations from caravan parks in Cumberland River and Erskine River.
Paramedics say they were called to an incident at Wye River at 1.20pm, but no emergency treatment or transport was required.
About 1600 homes in the region are without power, down from a peak of over 5000 earlier in the day. The Great Ocean Road remains closed in both directions between Fairhaven and Skenes Creek.
Lorne has effectively been cleaved in two by the flooding, with the road closed to traffic in both directions between Lorne and Cumberland River.
Footage received by this masthead shows sections of the Wye River Big4 holiday park underwater in rapid floodwaters, cars being swept into the ocean, and at least four cars crashed against the Cumberland River bridge by surging floodwaters.
A popular beach town on the Great Ocean Road, Wye River is roughly 150 kilometres from Melbourne.
Rebecca Scott was camping at the Wye River Big4 park with her daughter when the river broke its banks about 1pm.
“Suddenly, the water was just coming up,” Scott told this masthead. “You know that feeling, that moment in time when you’re like, ‘this is a flood’. This is dangerous waters.”
Scott described a frantic scene as campers attempted to unplug electrical equipment and save essentials. She was forced to abandon her tent, bedding, and camp kitchen to flee in her car as the park’s playground became a “reservoir”.
Loading
“We’re driving past campsites submerged, people running towards their campsites in shock,” she said.
Scott’s exit was eventually blocked by rising water, forcing her to abandon her vehicle and evacuate on foot to the Wye River pub.
Michelle Mackenzie, who is holidaying in Lorne and was at the Wye River pub for lunch when the flooding became serious, described seeing eskies and chairs washed away as the pub became “chockers” with people evacuated from the campgrounds.
Mackenzie said there were multiple fire trucks stationed in the town and the main bridge crossing the river had been closed.
The flash flooding occurred as Victoria continues to battle major bushfires that have burned more than 400,000 hectares across the state.
Alex Kelly was among those who evacuated the Wye River caravan with her partner and two children park on Thursday. It was just six days after the family had to evacuate Castlemaine as the Ravenswood South bushfire threatened their home.
“We went to Melbourne on Friday and then moved again because we already had Wye River booked,” she said. “Lots of our friends are impacted in Harcourt.”
“I’m feeling very angry. And what I’m feeling most angry about is we’re not putting an end to the fossil fuel industry.”
Otways Shire Mayor Jason Schram told 3AW much of the local emergency personnel were still working on blacking out the major Otways bushfire near Colac.
“It was only six days ago that they were evacuating Kennett River and Wye River because of the threat of the fires,” he said.
“They’ve been allowed back in, and we’ve been hit with this surprise, big thunderstorm and rain event, and it’s just absolutely devastating.”
The flash flooding has also come just a few weeks after Wye River commemorated 10 years since serious bushfires that destroyed 116 houses.
3AW breakfast host Ross Stevenson, who is holidaying in Lorne, reported that the bridge at the entrance to the town near the Foodworks had been shut due to debris and rising water.
“The main street of Lorne is now a complete traffic jam because no one can get across this bridge,” Stevenson told 3AW.
“It’s incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it”.
Stevenson described “rampaging” water pouring through the local caravan park and camping site. “It’s really, really moving,” he said. “I’m seeing on the … northern side of that bridge… that water’s got up really significantly.”
Emergency services have moved crowds back from the river as the surge threatens to impact the main street. Stevenson noted that while rainfall in Lorne itself had been light, the river was likely responding to heavy falls further upstream.
Meanwhile, floodwaters at Lorne have claimed several tents and are lapping around caravans, with SES crews and residents seen carrying children out of the water to safety, and emergency helicopters are en route to assist with rescues in the area.
Residents have been urged to park cars undercover and away from trees, and to contact family members and neighbours.
The SES warned that floodwater can rise quickly, and heavy rainfall has increased the risk of landslides in the Otways. Drivers have been urged not to enter floodwater and to call Triple Zero (000) in a life-threatening emergency.
Get alerts on breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.
Read the full article here
