Central Victoria town overwhelmed by flood waters

Storms cut power to thousands of homes across Victoria. Photo / Thinkstock

The central Victorian town of Carisbrook is under water, with nearly 200 homes submerged by floods.

The State Emergency Service (SES) said 190 houses, two churches and a club have been flooded in the town, near Maryborough, on the Loddon River.

"People may not be able to return for a while as sewerage and power have been disconnected," said SES spokeswoman Simone Myers.

Carisbrook and the other central Victorian town of Charlton, on the Avoca River, have sustained the worst flood damage.

More than 400 properties were flooded and much of the town has been evacuated.

Only trucks can enter the town and power has been shut off. It may be up to three days before electricity is reconnected.

The relief centre has been moved to Donald and authorities are concerned about the Avoca River, which is still rising.

Meanwhile, sandbagging took place at Rochester on the Campaspe River overnight, with the flood waters poised to exceed 1956 levels and two-thirds of residents being told to move.

"There's grave concerns because they think it will reach past the 1956 level, which means that two-thirds of the town will be impacted and there will be flooding through the main street," Ms Myers said.

Crews are out on Saturday watching how quickly floodwaters rise.

Many locals packed up and headed to a relief centre at Echuca Secondary College on Friday night amid predictions the Campaspe would peak early on Saturday.

A man identified only as John, who left the Rochester caravan park on Friday, spent the night in an evacuation centre with dozens of locals who had also left their homes.

"Finally got out last night and we're now in the Rochester sports ground and the water's come up overnight so we're stranded there. There's no water, no nothing," he told ABC radio. "It's not a happy situation, unfortunately."

The town of Serpentine, 60km west of Rochester, is also on alert and residents have been warned they could be isolated by flood waters.

"There's only one road going in and out of the town at the moment but in the next couple of hours it's to be closed," Ms Myers said.

"They're asking everyone who thinks they may be affected to leave because they may not have any exit after the next two hours."

Evacuation warnings have been issued for Carisbrook, Charlton, Serpentine, Lauriston, Bridgewater, Newbridge and Dadswell Bridge.

Other towns expected to be affected on Saturday include Skipton, Casterton, Horsham, Kerang and Rupanyup.

Major flood warnings are in place for the Wimmera, Loddon, Campaspe and Avoca rivers in the west and northwest of the state as well as the Glenelg and Leigh rivers in the southwest.

Meanwhile people evacuated from Beaufort, Clunes and Creswick are returning to their homes.

- AAP