A popular caravan park in Victoria has been completely destroyed after what witnesses described as 'tsunami'-type flash flooding tore through the area on Thursday afternoon. The sudden deluge left people trapped and terrified, with around 200 local residents and holidaymakers displaced from their homes and campsites.
An 'Incredibly Damaging' Weather Event
The Bureau of Meteorology labelled the intense downpour an 'incredibly damaging' event for communities across the Wye River and Lorne area. Huge volumes of rain fell in just a few hours along the iconic Great Ocean Road. The bureau recorded a staggering 175 millimetres of rain in six hours at Mount Cowley near Lorne, leading to rapid and devastating flooding.
Coastal towns were submerged, cars were swept out to sea, and critical infrastructure including roads and bridges was severely damaged or destroyed. Shocking footage obtained by the Daily Mail showed caravans and trailers at Wye River upturned and wrecked, while piles of debris and fallen trees littered the streets.
Trapped with Minutes to Escape
Holidaymakers recounted harrowing escapes, with many having just five minutes to grab belongings before evacuating. One family, who had camped at Cumberland River Park for over 30 years, called it the scariest moment of their lives. 'We saw the river rise and come gushing down, within a matter of 10 minutes the caravan park was underwater,' they said in an online post.
They added that exits were blocked, forcing people to run uphill into forested areas. 'We were trapped on the hill with nothing... We were freezing and soaking wet and had to wait with no idea of what was happening,' they stated, highlighting a lack of phone reception in the area.
Park Closures and Major Cleanup Underway
The immediate threat has passed, according to Victoria's State Emergency Service (SES), but dangerous hazards remain. With more rain forecast, several parks have been forced to close indefinitely.
The Big4 Wye River Holiday Park is confirmed closed, though the duration is unknown. The Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park will be shut for several weeks as a mammoth cleanup begins, requiring a full replacement of the electrical supply after it was flooded in 10 minutes. Cumberland River Park is also closed due to unsafe conditions.
Thankfully, no injuries have been reported, with SES crews successfully helping evacuate all guests. The Great Ocean Road remains closed in both directions from Lorne to Skenes Creek. Emergency Relief Centres have been set up at Lorne Stribling Reserve and Apollo Bay P12 College, offering basic amenities.
