Record Rain Turns Great Ocean Road Into a Torrent as Cars Are Swept to Sea
Good evening and this is an extraordinary and sobering story coming out of Australia tonight.
Parts of Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Road have been hit by a sudden, record-breaking downpour that turned quiet coastal towns into scenes of chaos within hours. What began as thunderstorms quickly escalated into violent flash flooding, catching residents, tourists and emergency services off guard.
Communities like Wye River, Lorne, Kennett River and Cumberland River were right in the firing line. In a matter of hours, intense rain rushed down from the Otways, overwhelming creeks and rivers and sending walls of muddy water straight through caravan parks, across roads and in some cases, all the way out to sea.
Video shared online shows cars being lifted like toys and swept into the ocean at Wye River. Other vehicles were jammed against bridges or swallowed by floodwater. Caravan parks were inundated, with people forced to flee their vans and tents, some climbing onto roofs and others running for higher ground with only what they could carry.
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Emergency crews worked through the chaos, helping people trapped by rising water and checking on those stranded. The State Emergency Service says, remarkably, there have been no confirmed injuries, but many rescues were carried out and hundreds of holidaymakers have been displaced. Some people were unable to return to their belongings and many cars are simply gone.
The scale of the rain has stunned even seasoned forecasters. In the hills west of Lorne, more than 170 millimetres fell in just seven hours. That’s more rain than the area normally sees in an entire month and it smashed local records that had stood for decades. Authorities described the intensity as off the charts.
Power outages followed, roads were cut and the Great Ocean Road itself was closed for long stretches, leaving towns isolated. To make matters worse, officials warned that some floodwaters may be contaminated, adding health risks to an already dangerous situation.
What’s striking is the timing. Just days ago, parts of this same region were on edge over bushfire threats. Now, those same communities are dealing with destructive floods. It’s a stark reminder of how quickly conditions can flip and how vulnerable coastal and forested areas can be to extreme weather.
As waters slowly recede, the clean-up is only just beginning. Mud, debris, damaged infrastructure and ruined livelihoods are left behind and for many families and businesses, recovery will take time.
Authorities are urging people to stay away from floodwaters and closed roads and to remain alert as unsettled weather may continue.
Tonight, thoughts are with everyone along the Great Ocean Road facing a long and difficult recovery, after a day when nature showed just how powerful and unpredictable it can be.
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