The Bay of Plenty has seen heavy rain today with Whakatane copping heavy falls and causing localised severe flooding and landslips in the centre of the town.

Reports are coming in of a teenager who may have been in caught in a house when a landslip hit a home in Ohope. Police have yet to confirm the wheerabouts of the teenager.

The MetService had a severe weather warning in place for the area until 4pm this afternoon.

A welfare centre has been opened at Ohope Christian Centre to accommodate people evacuated from West End Road.

Whakatane District Council said an additional welfare centre would be opened at the Whakatane War Memorial Hall should the need arise.

Council Civil Defence controller Diane Turner said the council would continue to closely monitor the situation for the next few hours and people were being asked to stay way from rivers as they could quickly rise without warning. A small vessel reportedly sank in the Whakatane River overnight due to the torrential rain.

There have also been reports of a weak tornado in the East Tamaki area this afternoon and we’ll continue with further updates as it comes to hand.