Four campers have been hospitalised after a gum tree fell on tents and a caravan in Victoria’s north overnight after wild weather hit the state.
A State Emergency Service (SES) spokeswoman said crews had to battle tough weather conditions to free the four people from underneath the gum tree at Freeburgh Caravan Park in Bright.
“It is believed one man was flown to a Melbourne hospital while the three others were taken to local hospitals,” the spokeswoman said.
New year clean-up after states smashed by wild storms
“The extent of their injuries is not yet known.”
Over the past 24 hours, the north-east and eastern parts of Victoria have been impacted by severe weather but the warnings aren’t over yet.
Victoria’s SES chief operations officer Tim Wiesbusch said overnight the intense rainfall and hail that slammed the state resulted in a number of flood rescues and felled trees around holiday campgrounds.
There were 12 rescues overnight that Wiebusch said was “too many”.
SES said there had been 289 calls for help, 177 trees felled, 50 buildings damaged and 26 properties flooded.
He warned some rivers were still rising to minor flood levels sparking a warning for travellers to be careful when camping nearby.
“If you are camping by rivers and streams make sure you are checking the local conditions and warnings but if you’re out on our roads, if you come across water, please do not attempt to drive through that flash flood water,” he said.
“It could be the last decision you make.”
Flood warnings are in place for the Avoca River, Seven and Castle Creeks and the Loddon River.
More rain and thunderstorms are forecast for Victoria’s north as floodwaters continue to inch higher and higher.
“Partly cloudy in the east and far north with isolated showers and the chance of a thunderstorm,” the bureau said.
The severe weather over the past 48 hours caused tens of thousands of people to lose power and affected multiple train lines, and a freeway was closed after a crash.
Sergeant Ben Huisman said saving the man and dog’s lives was a “great result” but doesn’t like being labelled a hero.
“It wasn’t me it was certainly the community members that got involved and saved the day, to be honest,” he said.
