More than 70mm of rain has fallen in the Myrtleford area in the past 24 hours.
© 9NEWSMore than 70mm of rain has fallen in the Myrtleford area in the past 24 hours.
Residents in a number of homes and businesses in Victoria's north-east have been evacuated while more than a thousand properties are without power as rivers again swell to major flood levels.

Residents who live in low-lying areas in Myrtleford have been urged to evacuate and seek refuge at a relief centre set up at the Myrtleford Senior Citizens Centre, after more than 70mm of rain fell in the area in past 24 hours.

In the nearby town of Tarrawingee, a man had to be rescued from his back of his truck after he became trapped in rising floodwaters earlier today.

The man, in his 50s, was eventually handed a life jacket from emergency crews before being pulled to safety.



Authorities are warning residents in the area to stay away from flood waters.

"You've really got to be vigilant," an SES spokeswoman said.

"Do not drive into flood water, do not go into water full stop."

The SES have responded to 1000 calls for help in the area over the past 24 hours.

AusNet said today that 535 properties in the Myrtleford are without power while elsewhere in the north-east, another 800 properties are also in the dark.

Bureau of Meteorology hydrologist Chris Leahy said the Ovens River was close to peaking around Myrtleford while major flooding is also expected downstream.

"That water is going to move down towards Wangaratta today and into tomorrow so we expect major flood peaks in Wangaratta," Mr Leahy said.

Rivers in the area are at their highest levels in more than 20 years.

Elsewhere in the state, major flood alerts have been issued for areas along the King, Kiewa, Loddon and Avoca rivers.

The Avoca is expected to peak tonight or tomorrow morning at 7.3m, which is above major flood levels but about 30cm short of the height reached during last month's flood event.

Bandiana on the outskirts of Wodonga is bracing for the Kiewa River to touch the major flood mark of 3.3m sometime this afternoon or this evening, the bureau said.

The road to Falls Creek in the Victorian High Country has been closed after "numerous landslides, landslips and trees" blocked the Bogong High Plains Road between the ski village and Mount Beauty, Vic Roads said.

Around 220 roads across the state are flooded.

Source: AAP