Victoria Grapples with Dual Disasters: Flash Floods and Bushfires

Unprecedented Deluge Hits Great Ocean Road

Victoria, Australia, has been struck by a series of severe weather events, with flash floods causing widespread disruption along the renowned Great Ocean Road. On Thursday, January 15, 2026, a 'rain bomb' unleashed record-breaking rainfall, with one gauge at Mt Cowley west of Lorne recording 115mm in just one hour, and over 170-180mm falling in a few hours across the region.

The sudden deluge caused rivers like the Wye, Kennett, and Cumberland to swell rapidly, transforming coastal holiday spots into scenes of chaos. Floodwaters swept dozens of cars into the sea or smashed them against pylons, and inundated low-lying caravan parks with mud, logs, and debris. Dramatic footage circulated showing vehicles being carried away by raging currents. The Great Ocean Road was subsequently closed between Skenes Creek and Lorne.

Emergency services issued 'take shelter now' warnings, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of people to relief centres in Lorne and Apollo Bay. Approximately 400 people lost accommodation, with 60 sheltering overnight. While no lives were reported lost, and no serious injuries initially, one child was airlifted to hospital. The flooding caused significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and vehicles, with two concrete bridges destroyed on one property.

Bushfires Continue to Ravage the State

Compounding the flood crisis, Victoria continues to battle multiple bushfires that have been active since early January 2026. On January 10, 2026, Premier Jacinta Allan declared a State of Disaster for 18 local government areas and Lake Mountain Alpine Resort due to the severity of the blazes.

The fires, exacerbated by severe heatwaves, dry conditions, and strong winds, have scorched over 410,000 hectares across the state, an area larger than the Australian Capital Territory. Key affected areas include Walwa, Longwood, Mt Lawson state park, Streatham, Natimuk, Ravenswood, and Harcourt. Some fires were so intense they generated their own weather phenomena, including pyrocumulonimbus clouds.

The devastation from the bushfires is extensive:

• At least 259 homes have been razed.
• Over 900 structures, including homes and outbuildings, have been confirmed destroyed.
• One life has been claimed, that of cattle farmer Maxwell Hobson.
• More than 20,000 livestock have been lost.
• Approximately 38,000 households and businesses have experienced power outages.
• Significant damage has occurred to agriculture, infrastructure, and pine plantations.

Emergency Response and Ongoing Challenges

Emergency services in Victoria have been stretched thin, responding to both the ongoing bushfire threat and the sudden flood emergency. SES Chief Officer Operations Alistair Drayton noted the rapid shift in focus, stating, 'I've come from a fire to a flood zone in one day.' Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch highlighted the challenging conditions, encompassing 'severe-to-extreme heat wave, catastrophic bushfires and now extreme flash flooding.'

The Australian Government has activated disaster recovery payments and allowances to assist those affected by the January 2026 bushfires, with claims opening on January 19, 2026. Telstra has also implemented an assistance package for customers in affected areas. While flood risks have eased in some areas, authorities continue to warn communities to remain vigilant as conditions can change rapidly.