Woman missing, presumed dead in Bay of Plenty floods

8.00am

A woman is missing presumed dead in a landslide caused by the rain in the settlement of Bryan's Beach in the Bay of Plenty.

Sixty-seven-year-old Beverley Mira Freeman was digging a drain at the rear of her Wagner Place property with her husband when a huge slip came down.

It knocked their house off its foundations.

Mr Freeman ran to safety, but his wife didn't escape.

A second slip which came down later hampered rescue efforts.

The eastern Bay of Plenty was almost isolated from the rest of the North Island as heavy rain continued in the region.

The only route still open last night was State Highway 30 to Rotorua.

There were reports of states of emergency being declared or considered in some areas.

Roads closed include State Highway 2 between Whakatane and Tauranga and through the Waimana Gorge, and the Ohope hill road.

So much rain has fallen that the giant Matahina dam cannot hold any more water and electricity officials have begun spilling it over.

That will cause flooding in the lower Rangitaiki River, and farmers were already moving stock from low-lying areas along the river.

There is already extensive flooding on the adjoining plains with cars submerged and people unable to get through.

Environment BOP has all its staff on duty and rivers are being sand-bagged in rural areas.

Spokesman Bruce Fraser says road closures and slips make it advisable that people do not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

MetService says the area can expect up to 140 millimetres of rain in some areas before midnight.

- NEWSTALK ZB