SYDNEY, Jan 15 (Reuters) - A severe storm in Australia's Victoria state triggered flash flooding on Thursday, forcing the country's famed Great Ocean Road to close, sweeping cars out to sea and cutting power to thousands.
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* Authorities have issued an emergency warning for townsalong the Great Ocean Road, a popular tourist destination famousfor its scenic coastal views * The emergency warning said "very dangerous conditions arebeing caused by a severe thunderstorm and flash flooding" * It urged residents to move indoors and shelter away fromfloodwaters * A large stretch of the Great Ocean Road has been closed inboth directions * Local media reported cars have been swept into the oceanand 6,500 homes are without power * Rescue crews are assisting with people who became trappedin vehicles after floodwater inundated caravan parks, the StateEmergency Service told ABC Radio Melbourne * The weather bureau recorded 166 millimetres (6.5 inches)of rain since 9 a.m. in the nearby Mount Cowley area * It comes days after the Great Ocean Road was closed due tobushfires that started amid an intense summer heatwave
(Reporting by Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Michael Perry)