A man has been badly burnt and a street closed down after an explosion at a suspected P lab in Bay of Plenty.
The man was rescued by firefighters from a home on Ocean Beach Rd at Mt Maunganui following the explosion shortly before 4am today.
He was taken to Tauranga Hospital in a serious condition.
A second man fled the house before being found by police at a nearby home. He is "helping police with their enquiries".
A section of Ocean Beach Rd is expected to be closed "for the best part of the day" as officers investigate the suspected methamphetamine lab, police said.
About 10 houses near the explosion, which was in a home between Girven Rd and Concord Ave, have been evacuated and the occupants are staying with family and friends until they can return.
A Clan Lab team from Auckland will travel to Mt Maunganui this morning to begin a specialist scene examination.
Police have asked motorists travelling to work to use alternative routes.
Anyone with information about drugs or other offending should contact their nearest police station or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
