Horrific photo of flood-ravaged road in Pyalong, Victoria

If you needed a reminder why you should never drive in floodwaters, this photo of a flood-ravaged road in regional Victoria is it.

A horrifying image of a road torn up by a raging river was posted on social media as a shocking reminder why residents should never drive through floodwaters.

The photo shared on Facebook by Sharon Green shows a flood-ravaged road in Pyalong, west of Seymour in regional Victoria, with asphalt completely torn up and the ground underneath cratered.

She captioned the photo: “This is why you should rethink driving through floodwaters.”

Around 7000 homes across Shepparton and neighbouring Mooroopna and Kialla have been impacted by flooding, with fears up to 10,000 homes in the region could be flooded.

Try driving through this. Picture: Facebook / Sharon Green

Just in case you ever thought of driving through floodwater... this pic was taken at Learmonth near Ballarat 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/jsZHIFYzLW

— Irene Ackland (@IreneAckland) October 15, 2022

About 1000 homes in Echuca are also expected to be surrounded or inundated with water from the Murray River, which could reach peak levels on Monday or Tuesday, while power has been cut off in Murchison, Tatura, Toolamba and Mooroopna.

Residents in Echuca, Charlton and Bunbartha in the state’s north were being told to evacuate immediately at 6am on Monday, while those at Shepparton, Mooroopna, Murchison and Kialla West were being told it was too late to leave.

However, Shepparton residents have enjoyed something of an overnight reprieve, with the swollen Goulburn River rising slower than expected.

The Goulburn River at Shepparton was holding steady at around 12.05m around 6am on Monday.

Here's another, near Bendigo pic.twitter.com/sejTUmg37K

— Irene Ackland (@IreneAckland) October 15, 2022

The river had been expected to peak at 12.2m, but it was now expected to peak at around 12.1m late on Monday morning, which will take it past the 1974 flood level of 12.09m.

The heavy rainfall that contributed to rapidly rising water in the Campaspe and Goulburn rivers in recent days has flowed into the Murray River, putting the twin border towns of Echuca and Moama at risk of flooding.

On Sunday, the water had begun escaping the banks of the Murray, threatening homes and businesses in Echuca and Moama.

A photo of floodwater taken from the Shepparton Art Museum.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the Campaspe River at Echuca peaked around 96.25m (Australian Height Datum) late Sunday afternoon.

The river is expected to remain around 96.2m on Monday morning, due to elevated Murray River levels, but is falling slowly.

“Major flooding is expected to continue for the next few days,” a flood warning read.

An SES spokesperson said it was too early to tell how many houses had been inundated.

Warning to drivers re the Calder Freeway: there a very big potholes in the road between #Castlemaine & Woodend both directions that are almost impossible to see in this rain.

He’s our video between Kyneton & Castlemaine around 5pm. Fields now lakes! #vicfloodspic.twitter.com/pMcru4kGjW

— Dr Kerryn Bagley (@KerrynBagley) October 13, 2022

He added that SES crews worked tirelessly overnight to evacuate residents from Shepparton who either did not or could not leave earlier.

“Overnight, there have been 57 requests for rescue in Shepparton, including for 25 persons of concern from the assisted living and disability residences in the area,” he said.

Originally published as Horrific photo of flood-ravaged road in Pyalong, Victoria