Three children missing after vehicle plunges into Awakino river

Rescue Helicopter crewman on top of what is thought to be the van in the Awakino River. Picture / Herald on Sunday

Three children are missing -- believed dead -- after a van plunged into the Awakino River in North Taranaki this morning.

Wellington police say the accident happened at Awakino on State Highway 3 about two kilometres south of the Awakino Tunnel at 11.30am.

Four adults managed to get out of the vehicle, yet three children are missing, presumed drowned, police said in a statement.

Publican Greg Morrison, who was at the crash scene as a local fire-brigade member, told NZPA that the van failed to negotiate a corner and plunged into the river around seven metres below.

"The van's around ten feet out, and ten foot under the surface. We've managed to secure the vehicle from moving any further but can't lift it up the bank."

He said that rescue operations were hampered by the river being in full flow due to three days of heavy rain.

"We've managed to give the (police) divers access to the vehicle using ropes, but they can't get down there to get the bodies out. It's just too deep, and too swift a running current, and the danger to them is too much."

State Highway 3 was blocked for some time, and is now down to one lane while emergency services deal with the vehicle.

"It's a very, very sad on Christmas day seeing a family torn apart like that," added Mr Morrison.

- NZPA