A powerful thunderstorm unleashed catastrophic flash flooding on Thursday across parts of Victoria’s southwest coast, driving cars, caravans and tents into the sea and inundating towns along the iconic Great Ocean Road.

Torrential downpours, with more than one hundred and seventy millimetres of rain in just a few hours, caused the Wye, Kennett and Cumberland rivers to swell rapidly, overtopping their banks and sweeping vehicles from low-lying areas directly toward the ocean.

Dramatic footage shared by witnesses showed multiple cars caught in the raging currents and carried out through the mouth of the Wye River as onlookers watched from higher ground.

Authorities urged residents, tourists and campers to seek higher ground and shelter as flash flood emergency warnings were issued for several communities, including Wye River, Kennett River, Cumberland River and Lorne.

Officials confirmed that the vehicles were unoccupied when swept away, and as of late Thursday there were no reports of missing people related to those incidents.

Emergency services responded to numerous rescues, including winching a man from a rooftop in the Cumberland River area and assisting others who had taken refuge on building roofs when floodwaters rose with little notice.

VicEmergency, the state’s disaster warning agency, warned that heavy rainfall and flash flooding could trigger further hazards, including landslides and debris across roadways, and advised people to avoid floodwaters and low-lying terrain.

The intense weather also led to the closure of the Great Ocean Road between Lorne and Skenes Creek and left thousands of properties without power.

Local leaders expressed relief that no fatalities had been confirmed but warned of extensive property damage and ongoing disruption.

The flooding inflicted further strain on communities still recovering from recent bushfires in the region, underscoring the compound effects of extreme weather events on infrastructure and emergency response resources.