Communities along Victoria's Great Ocean Road experienced widespread flash flooding on Thursday, January 15, 2026, following intense and record-breaking rainfall. The severe weather led to numerous evacuations, significant damage to infrastructure and vehicles, and a multi-agency emergency response.
Event Overview and Rainfall
The flash flooding primarily affected areas including Wye River, Kennett River, Cumberland River, Lorne, and Separation Creek. The event was triggered by severe thunderstorms and torrential rain, characterized by meteorologists as a very rare and unprecedented occurrence for the region, with some comparing its intensity to levels not seen since 1983.
Rainfall measurements in the Mt Cowley area, west of Lorne, recorded between 166mm and 186.2mm over various periods, with one report indicating 175mm fell within six hours on Thursday. The 24-hour total of 186.2mm by 9 AM Friday marked the highest rainfall ever recorded at that specific site since data collection began in 2000. Authorities attributed the intense rainfall to "extremely high moisture content in the atmosphere," an unusual occurrence for southern Australia, with meteorologists suggesting the event was "at least influenced a little bit" by ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji.
Impacts and Damage
The rapid inundation caused extensive damage across the affected areas:
- Vehicles: Multiple vehicles, including cars and caravans, were swept into the sea at Wye River or became trapped against bridges, particularly at Cumberland River. Emergency crews later conducted a recovery operation utilizing a Black Hawk helicopter and a marine salvage team to retrieve over a dozen vehicles from coastal waters and rivers. All but one heavily buried caravan chassis were successfully recovered.
- Evacuations and Inundation: Caravan parks in Wye River, Lorne, Cumberland River, and Kennett River were significantly inundated. Approximately 200 to 400 individuals, including locals and tourists, were displaced from low-lying holiday parks. One report indicated around 1,500 people were evacuated from the Wye River caravan park. The Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park, among others, is anticipated to remain closed for several weeks for clean-up and repairs due to potential electrocution risks and biological contamination.
- Infrastructure: Two bridges at Separation Creek were reported destroyed, and other concrete bridges were also damaged, isolating some properties. The Wye River General Store and Lorne's only supermarket were affected by floodwaters, with the supermarket temporarily closing. The structural integrity of the Cumberland Bridge required assessment.
- Power Outages: Approximately 6,500 homes in the affected region reported power outages by 3 PM on Thursday.
- Hazards: The heavy rainfall increased the risk of landslides in the Otways. Ongoing hazards include residual floodwater, mud, debris, compromised roads, fallen trees, and potential landslips, as the ground remains heavily saturated and unstable.
Emergency Response and Assistance
The State Emergency Service (SES) issued flash flood emergency warnings at 2:36 PM for Wye River, Kennett River, Cumberland River, Lorne, and surrounding areas, advising residents to move indoors immediately. Emergency text messages were sent to 10,000 people in the affected zones.
Emergency services received 229 calls for assistance statewide within 24 hours up to midday on Friday. While multiple initial reports indicated no injuries, one specific incident involved a man in his 60s who was rescued from a roof at Cumberland River and transported to a local hospital for an upper body injury. At least six individuals were rescued in total, with police releasing footage of an aerial rescue operation that included winching a man from a shed roof.
Emergency relief centers were established at Lorne's Stribling Reserve and Apollo Bay P12 College, with local residents and community groups also providing support and accommodation. State and federal governments activated disaster assistance for the Surf Coast and Colac Otways shires, including the Personal Hardship Assistance Program offering payments for immediate essentials and additional funding for emergency accommodation and public asset restoration. Over 100 volunteers assisted with mud removal at the Wye River General Store.
Road Closures and Reopenings
The Great Ocean Road was closed in both directions between Skenes Creek and Wye River due to the extreme weather. A section between Lorne and Skenes Creek was also closed for structural integrity assessments of the Cumberland Bridge. The road was temporarily closed for five hours during vehicle recovery operations. On Saturday, a section of the Great Ocean Road between Skenes Creek and Lorne reopened following safety assessments.
Eyewitness Accounts
Campers and residents reported the rapid rise of floodwaters. One camper at the Big4 park in Wye River observed the river breaking its banks around 1 PM, necessitating the abandonment of equipment to evacuate, with her vehicle becoming blocked by rising water. Others at the Wye River pub observed items such as eskies and chairs being washed away. Residents described the flooding as the most severe they had ever witnessed, with some recounting narrow escapes from rapidly rising waters.
Future Outlook
While rainfall was expected to subside over the weekend, authorities cautioned that flooding conditions may persist. Reduced flash flood warnings were issued, but continued vigilance was advised due to ongoing hazards. The forecast included a return of potential severe thunderstorms to western Victoria on Monday, extending east on Tuesday, with heightened fire dangers also anticipated for Friday and Saturday of the following week. This flooding incident followed a period when the same region faced bushfire threats, with some fires in Cape Otway and Carlisle River still active, albeit at downgraded levels.