Car swept out to sea as severe storm hits
Updated ,first published
Police rescued a man from a rooftop and cars were washed out to sea after floods devastated the Lorne and Wye River areas of the Great Ocean Road on Thursday.
A number of people used Wye River’s general store roof as shelter from severe flooding which left cars buried under bridges and some holidaymakers trapped in their caravans.
The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 175 millimeters of rain in six hours in the Mount Cowley area, near Lorne.
Local resident Kath told the ABC conditions became “frightening” at around 1.40pm following heavy rain in the morning.
“It was literally like a tsunami coming out of the river,” he said.
The SES issued its first emergency warning of flash flooding for the River Wye, Kennett River, Cumberland River and Lorne areas at around 2pm and updated it just after 5pm.
The warning says, “You are in danger. You must immediately go indoors and take shelter away from flood waters. Do not enter flood waters.”
On Thursday afternoon, police said their local officers and the Air Wing had responded to several incidents in the area.
“Reports that several vehicles had been washed out to sea were of immediate concern, but we believe there was no one in any of the vehicles at the time,” police said.
“No one was seen in the vehicles and there are no reports of missing persons at this time.”
“The Air Wing rescued a man in his 60s from a roof in the Cumberland River using a crane and we are aware of reports that a number of people took shelter on the roof of a shop in the River Wye, but they were able to get off the roof as the water has now receded.”
Police are also coordinating evacuations from caravan parks on the Cumberland River and Erskine River.
Paramedics said they were called to an incident on the River Wye at 1.20pm but no immediate action or transport was required.
Approximately 1,600 homes in the area do not have electricity, down from over 5,000 earlier in the day. The Great Ocean Road remains closed in both directions between Fairhaven and Skenes Creek.
Lorne was effectively split in two by the flooding, and the road between Lorne and the Cumberland River was closed to traffic in both directions.
Images taken by this masthead show sections of the Wye River Big4 holiday park submerged in rapid floodwaters, cars being swept into the ocean and at least four cars crashing into the Cumberland River bridge as floodwaters surged.
Wye River, a popular seaside town on the Great Ocean Road, is approximately 150 kilometers from Melbourne.
Rebecca Scott was camping with her daughter at the Wye River Big4 park when the river broke its banks around 1pm.
“All of a sudden the water started rising,” Scott told this imprint. “You know that moment when you say, ‘This is a flood?’ These are dangerous waters.”
Scott described a frantic scene as campers unplugged electrical equipment and tried to salvage essential items. As the park’s playground became a “reservoir,” he was forced to abandon his tent, bed, and camp kitchen to escape in his car.
“We pass by campsites that are underwater, people are running towards the campsites in shock,” he said.
Scott’s exit was eventually blocked by rising water, forcing him to abandon his vehicle and walk to the Wye River pub.
Michelle Mackenzie, who was holidaying in Lorne and was at the Wye River pub for lunch when the flooding became serious, said she saw old furniture and chairs blown away as the pub became “congested” as people were evacuated from campsites.
Mackenzie said there were many fire trucks in the town and the main bridge crossing the river was closed.
The flash flooding comes as Victoria continues to battle massive bushfires that have burned more than 400,000 hectares across the state.
Alex Kelly was among those who evacuated the River Wye caravan with his wife and two playpens 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 moved again because we had a booking at Wye River,” he said. “A lot of our friends at Harcourt were affected.”
“I’m very angry. And the thing I’m most angry about is that we’re not ending the fossil fuel industry.”
Otways Shire Mayor Jason Schram told 3AW most local emergency personnel were still trying to extinguish the massive Otways bushfire near Colac.
“Only six days ago they were evacuating the River Kennett and the River Wye because of the fire threat,” he said.
“They were allowed in and we got this surprise, major storm and rain, and it’s absolutely devastating.”
The flash flooding comes just weeks after a ceremony marked 10 years since serious bushfires on the River Wye destroyed 116 homes.
3AW breakfast presenter Ross Stevenson, who is holidaying in Lorne, reported that the bridge at the entrance to the town near Foodworks was closed due to debris and rising water.
“Lorne’s high street is now a total gridlock because no one can get across that bridge,” Stevenson told 3AW.
“Amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Stevenson described “raging” water flowing into the local caravan park and campground. “It’s really impressive,” he said. “On the north side… of the bridge… I see the water actually rising significantly.”
Emergency services moved the crowd away from the river as the surge threatened to affect the main street. Stevenson noted that although rainfall in Lorne was light, the river responded to heavy rainfall upstream.
Meanwhile, floodwaters in Lorne covered many tents and swept around caravans; SES crews and residents were seen carrying children from the water to safety and emergency helicopters were en route to assist with rescue efforts in the area.
Residents were asked to park their cars under cover and away from trees and to contact family members and neighbors.
The SES has warned that floodwaters could rise quickly and heavy rains could increase the risk of landslides in the Otways. Motorists are urged to avoid entering floodwaters and to call Triple Zero (000) in the event of a life-threatening emergency.
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Rachael Dexter is a journalist working on The Age’s City team. Contact her at rachael.dexter@theage.com.au, rachaeldexter@protonmail.com or via Signal at @rachaeldexter.58.Connect with: Facebook or email.
