A man allegedly flooded a hotel while high on drugs by opening fire hydrants on 18 storeys, causing $1.6m of damage.

Bradley Vogt, 28, was found in the stairwell with mop in hand by firefighters as they responded to more than 400,000 litres of water flooding out of the Southbank building.

The Traralgon man had been consuming large amounts of drugs in his hotel room before he decided to open all the fire hydrants on levels 1 to 18, police allege.

Water flooding into the lobby after a man, allegedly opened fire hydrants on every every storey. (9news)

According to the hotel manager, the man became violent towards police. (9news)

More than 300 residents and guests at the 33-storey Experience Bella Hotel had to be evacuated onto City Road, as water leaked through floors and began shorting electricity.

Firefighters told him to go downstairs for his own safety, but later found him on level 4 allegedly re-opening another hydrant.

He was then found lying on the ground, partially submerged in water and still holding the mop.

Mr Vogt then barricaded himself in a room downstairs before lashing out at police when they tried to arrest him, according to the hotel manager.

(9news)

The court heard that Mr Vogt told emergency crews: “I had to do it. They are coming to get me. It is not safe.”

Police allege Mr Vogt was found with two ziplock bags of methamphetamines and that before the incident he was consuming drugs with another male in his hotel room.

When everyone else was evacuated, police found other man still in the room, oblivious to the 432,000 litres of water down that his friend had sent down the stairwell.