Two people have been seriously hurt in a crash on the Inland Kaikōura Road this morning.
The people were trapped in vehicles by flooding near the Cribb Creek Bridge, as the creek had overflowed.
Emergency services received reports at 6.40am of a two-car crash, and were already on the road after another driver had earlier been rescued nearby.
Ambulance staff treated two patients and transported them to Kaikōura Medical Centre, both in serious conditions.
The road is now closed because of flooding.
Cribb Creek has burst its banks and Cribb Creek Bridge is unsafe to drive along.
Police say people should stay home if it's not necessary to travel.
It comes as State Highway 1 has been closed between Cheviot and Kaikōura owing to concerns about the impact on the highway of rising river levels.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says the issue is where the Conway River is flooding on to SH1 in an area known locally as ‘Siberia’.
"Because Inland Route 70/Inland Kaikoura Road is also closed, road users are encouraged to consider using other inland routes such as State Highway 7, or to delay their travel.
"People should prepare for a closure throughout the day."
