Power lines are down due to a car crash on Te Ngae Road. Photo/Ben Fraser
4.25pm: Bay of Plenty police have advised that Te Ngae Rd heading east is down to one lane.
This is to enable the repair of power lines damaged in a crash this morning.
Police also advise there is heavy congestion on the road from Sala St to Fenton St.
Meanwhile, Rotorua Girls' High School will be closed until Monday.
1.47pm: The Rotorua District Council has issued the following update on the heavy rain:
* Earlier intense and heavy rain has now eased. MetService is expecting a few hours relief from heavy rain this afternoon, with more rain expected around 5pm to 6pm. Heavy showers are then expected and thunderstorms possible. Rain could continue tonight until early tomorrow morning.
* Rotorua District Council still has its Emergency Operations Centre operating and the council will continue to monitor conditions through the night.
Image 1 of 26: A car stuck on Moncur Drive is pushed by a tractor. It was later towed away after water poured in.
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* Mayor Steve Chadwick has visited many parts of the district this morning where there has been flooding and has spoken first-hand to many affected residents. Mrs Chadwick said she had been impressed with the professional response to a complex and developing situation across many parts of Rotorua district, by council staff and Rotorua's Emergency Services. She said local residents had also shown admirable resilience and their cooperation had been much appreciated.
* The heavy rain this morning peaked around 10.30am, resulting in widespread flooding in urban Rotorua and some rural areas. There was substantial surface flooding on many roads. Rain eased around 11.15am.
* Power has been out this morning in Eastern suburbs and Lakes Okareka and Tarawera and there were long traffic delays on Te Ngae Rd. This follows an accident on Te Ngae Road this morning, involving a serious injury. Unison as hoping to have the power supply problem rectified by early afternoon.
