Imagine waking up to a serene beachside campground, only to find your car being swept out to sea within hours. This is the chilling reality that unfolded in Wye River, Victoria, on Thursday, where flash floods turned a peaceful holiday into a chaotic scramble for safety. But here’s where it gets even more alarming: three cars were carried into the ocean, and a beloved campground was completely submerged, leaving families stranded and communities in shock. This isn’t just a local incident—it’s a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictable power.
By 3:11 pm, the situation had escalated dramatically. Caravan parks along the iconic Great Ocean Road, including those at Carlisle River, Cumberland River, and Lorne Foreshore, were being evacuated as floodwaters surged. The road itself was closed between Skenes Creek and Wye River, leaving 6,500 homes without power. Social media footage captured the harrowing sight of vehicles being pulled into the ocean at Wye River, while videos from the Big4 holiday park showed rapid floodwaters engulfing the site. And this is the part most people miss: Wye River, a popular beach town just 150 kilometers from Melbourne, is usually a tranquil escape—not a disaster zone.
The State Emergency Service (SES) issued a flash flood emergency warning at 2:36 pm for Wye River, Kennett River, Cumberland River, Lorne, and surrounding areas. The message was clear: residents were in immediate danger and needed to seek shelter indoors, away from the rising waters. For Rebecca Scott, a Melbourne woman camping at the Big4 park with her daughter, the danger became all too real around 1 pm when the river burst its banks. “It was like watching a slow-motion horror movie,” Scott recounted. “The water just kept coming, and you knew this wasn’t a drill—this was life-threatening.”
In a frantic scramble, campers tried to salvage essentials and unplug electrical equipment, but the floodwaters moved too quickly. Scott was forced to abandon her tent, bedding, and camp kitchen, fleeing in her car as the park’s playground transformed into a makeshift reservoir. “We were driving past submerged campsites, seeing people running in shock,” she said. Her escape was cut short when rising water blocked the park’s gates, forcing her to leave her car behind and evacuate on foot to the Wye River pub.
Michelle Mackenzie, who was having lunch at the pub while on holiday in Lorne, described the scene as surreal. “Eskies and chairs were being swept away, and the pub was packed with evacuees from the campgrounds,” she said. “At one point, we counted three cars floating out to sea.” Mackenzie noted the presence of multiple fire trucks in the town and the closure of the main bridge crossing the river, adding to the sense of urgency.
The weather bureau recorded a staggering 166mm of rain in the Mt Cowley area between 9 am and the height of the flooding. Residents were urged to park their cars undercover, away from trees, and to check in with family and neighbors. The SES emphasized the rapid rise of floodwaters and the heightened risk of landslides in the Otways, warning drivers to avoid flooded areas and call Triple Zero (000) in emergencies. But here’s the controversial question: Are we doing enough to prepare for extreme weather events like this, or are we underestimating the risks of climate change in vulnerable coastal areas?
As the community begins to recover, one thing is clear: this incident serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of our environment and the importance of preparedness. What do you think? Are we ready for the next big flood, or is this a wake-up call we can’t afford to ignore? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Rachael Dexter is a journalist in the City team at The Age. Contact her at rachael.dexter@theage.com.au, rachaeldexter@protonmail.com, or via Signal at @rachaeldexter.58. Connect via Facebook or email.
