Car drives into floodwaters after heavy rain opens hole in road

Emergency services were called to Ngapouri Rd in Waiotapu after a person drove into a flooded hole in the road. File photo / NZME

One person is in hospital after a chasm opened up under their car on a rural North Island road overnight after heavy rain.

Emergency services were called to Ngapouri Rd in Waiotapu, south of Rotorua, just after 10pm, following a day of forecast downpours that triggered an orange rain warning.

It appeared floodwaters had washed out a section of the road, Fire and Emergency northern shift manager Colin Underdown said.

The driver had managed to get out of their vehicle with the help of local residents, but was trapped on the other side of the washout.

Rotorua was under an orange heavy rain warning yesterday with MetService warning that streams and rivers could rise rapidly, increasing the risk of surface flooding.

Drivers were being warned of possible slips and hazardous conditions, especially in hill country and rural areas.

Underdown said the Rotorua fire brigade was called to the incident about 10pm. Firefighters helped the person get across the road to where they could be seen by ambulance staff.

A Hato Hone St John spokesman said the service was called just after 10pm. An ambulance had taken one person with moderate injuries to Rotorua Hospital.

NZME has requested further comment from police.

Meanwhile, State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge is closed due to a slip discovered overnight, NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) says.

People are urged to delay travel where possible or allow at least three hours of extra time for a long detour, either via State Highway 35 or State Highway 5.

NZTA crews will continue monitoring and maintaining the detour route to ensure it remains safe and accessible.

While the orange heavy rain warning has been lifted, the entire North Island is now under a severe weather watch as Cyclone Vaianu bears down from the tropics.

While the exact track of the Category 3 storm isn’t yet clear, the worst weather is expected to hit on Sunday, with power outages, flooding and road closures possible.

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