WA tourists watch van disappear in floods

Two quick-thinking tourists in Western Australia's Pilbara region have dodged death by climbing onto a toilet block after waking up in a flooded campervan.

The travellers from overseas were parked at a camping spot at Bellery Creek, Tom Price on Tuesday night, hours before a sudden downpour of heavy rain caused the flash flooding.

They awoke at 2am on Wednesday to find the campervan full of water and quickly grabbed personal items before heading to higher ground - a toilet block.

The 27-year-old woman and 26-year-old man, who were uninjured, watched on as their campervan washed away and ended up on its side in the floodwaters.

Police officers attempted to retrieve the van using ropes, but the current was too fast and the mission deemed too unsafe.

SES volunteers attended with extra rescue equipment, but were also unable to save the campervan, which remains submerged.

Attempts to retrieve it would continue on Wednesday, a police spokesman said.