One person is in hospital after driving into a flooded chasm that opened up on a rural road south of Rotorua overnight. 

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

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. 

Road washout on Ngapouri Rd in Waiotapu, south of Rotorua. Photo / Kelly Makiha 

The upturned car was found about 80m downstream from the washout, which has blocked off four farming properties. 

Locals gathered at the site this morning, stunned by the extent of the damage. 

One woman, who didn’t want to be named, said she couldn’t believe the woman inside the car survived. 

The upturned car about 80m downstream from a road washout on Ngapouri Rd in Waiotapu, south of Rotorua.  Photo / Kelly Makiha 

A reporter at the scene said parts of the slip could be heard this morning still breaking off and landing about 20m into the stream below. 

Another road further up the valley, Te Kopia Rd, has also experienced slips overnight. 

Resident Ash Brown said a massive slip on a farm off Te Kopia Rd was a sight to see. 

“I heard it last night. It sounded like continuous thunder.” 

Road washout on Ngapouri Rd in Waiotapu, south of Rotorua, Photo / Kelly Makiha 

Brown said silt and mud in a low-lying area of Te Kopia Rd also caused another vehicle to get stuck. 

Fire and Emergency northern shift manager Colin Underdown said the Rotorua fire brigade was called to the Ngapouri Rd incident bout 10pm. 

Firefighters helped the person get across the road to where they could be seen by ambulance staff. 

Road washout on Ngāpouri Rd in Waiotapu, south of Rotorua, Photo / Kelly Makiha 

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

NZME has requested further comment from police. 

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. 

Slip on Te Kopia Rd south of Rotorua. Photo / Supplied 

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 2 storm isn’t yet clear, the worst weather is expected to hit on Sunday, with power outages, flooding and road closures possible.