A man has been rescued from a roof and dozens of cars have been swallowed by flash flooding after a deluge inundated a popular Victorian holiday hotspot.
Holidaymakers and locals in Wye River, Kennett River, Cumberland River and Lorne were forced to scramble to higher ground this afternoon after record rainfall lashed the area.
About 180mm of rain battered parts of Victoria's west coast in less than five hours, causing waterways including the Wye, Erskine and Cumberland Rivers to swell.
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Dozens of cars, tents and caravans were swept up by the fast-moving rapids.
"They literally didn't have time... the kids were in the tent, unzip the tent, grab the kid out and then the tent was gone," witness Darren Schonewille said.
Roads have been flooded, including the famed Great Ocean Road, which is closed in both directions between Fairhaven and Skenes Creek.
An emergency warning remains in place for Wye River, Kennett River, Cumberland River, Lorne and surrounds.
"If you are located in Wye River, Kennett River, Cumberland River, Lorne and surrounds, you are in danger," a VicEmergency warning reads.
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"You should immediately move indoors and shelter, away from floodwater.
"Do not enter floodwater".
V/Line coach services that normally run along the Great Ocean Road are detouring inland, and will skip Kennet River and Wye River stops.
Homes and buildings have also been flooded, the State Emergency Service said.
A police helicopter winched a man in his 60s from a roof in Cumberland River.
A number of people reportedly sought refuge on the roof of the general store in Wye River.
They were able to make their way to the ground after waters receded, according to police.
Police and the SES flood response are coordinating a number of evacuations from caravan parks in Cumberland and Erskine River.
Thankfully, police do not believe anyone was inside vehicles that were swept to sea.
There are no current missing persons.
"Once the sirens started, it was pretty apocalyptic," witness Aaron Usas said.
"It wasn't so much the rain in Wye River, it was like flooding from the mountains."
Isolated storms unleash havoc on unsuspecting holidaymakers
Mt Cowley, about 700 metres above sea level, west of Lorne, has been lashed with 179mm of rain since 9am, including more than 45mm in one hour earlier today.
The downpour was sparked by storms which remained stationary over the surf coast for six hours.
It's the highest daily rainfall total seen in the area since 1954.
Caravan parks caught off guard by floods
Nearby caravan parks in Wye River, Cumberland River and Lorne were swamped by rain, as holidaymakers were caught off guard by the storm.
"I've never seen anything like that, just incredible," Denise Watson said.
"There's people in tears - they just would've lost everything - and if you're just in a tent - yeah it would just be horrendous."
Authorities have warned landslides could occur as a result of the flooding.
The flash flood zone is about 75km east of two fires that triggered emergency evacuation warnings in the Otways last week.
"Last Thursday we were evacuated from here because of the potential fire risk and had to go home," Neil Watson said
"Then we come back and a week later it's flooding."
Community shelters have been opened in the following locations:
- Stribling Reserve, 45 otway Street, Lorne
- Apollo Bay Senior Citizens Centre, 4 Whelan Street, Apollo Bay
- Wyer River Pub
The severe thunderstorm is expected to spread across to the Central and West and South Gippsland districts later this evening.
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