Great Ocean Road Reels as Torrential Rain Washes Cars Away, Breaks Century-Old Record

The iconic Great Ocean Road has been left battered and bruised after an unprecedented deluge swept vehicles into the Southern Ocean and shattered a rainfall record that had stood for over a century.

Emergency services were inundated with calls for help overnight as intense rainfall, described by locals as a “wall of water,” triggered flash flooding and dangerous landslips along the scenic coastal route. Dramatic footage emerged from the small community of Separation Creek, where several cars were torn from a property and washed out to sea by the surging torrent.

The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the event was historic, with the nearby Mount Sabine weather station recording a staggering 163mm of rain in just 24 hours. This extraordinary figure obliterates the previous August record of 134mm set back in 1919.

“It was absolutely terrifying,” one Apollo Bay resident told our newsroom. “The noise of the rain on the roof was deafening, and then we started hearing the alerts about roads being cut off. You don’t expect to see cars floating past in this kind of weather.”

The State Emergency Service performed multiple flood rescues and responded to hundreds of requests for assistance, primarily for building damage and fallen trees. Major clean-up efforts are now underway, with crews working to clear debris and assess the stability of saturated cliffs and road surfaces.

Authorities are urging motorists to avoid non-essential travel in the region, warning that many roads remain closed due to flooding and significant damage. They advise residents and visitors to stay informed via VicTraffic warnings as the community begins the long process of recovery from nature’s fierce display.