Flooding and road closures

Bay of Plenty Police have this afternoon been involved in rescuing two persons from a partially submerged vehicle in the Waimana River.

The two occupants of the vehicle ignored warning signs and tried to drive through flood waters.

They managed to get out of their car and leaving the submerged vehicle behind, scrambled to safety.

They have now been airlifted to Whakatane Hospital.

Whakatane Police would like to inform the public that the road between Opotiki and Whakatäne and the road between Opotiki and Taneatua are both closed to all traffic due to flooding.

Motorists are asked to abide by the road closures and not try and get through the flooded roads.

The rivers are still rising with run off from the hills and with a high tide at 1400 hrs this afternoon flooding is severe.

Whakatane Police believe it will be some time before the flooding abates and roads are clear again.

In particular motorists returning north from the Rhythm and Vines Concert in Gisbourne are encouraged to travel via Napier and then Taupo rather than drive through the gorge to Opotiki where they will face long delays due to the road closures.