Police have confirmed that a young child was among the five victims of Wednesday's horrific bus crash near Rotorua.
Inspector Brent Crowe says the police are making good progress in identifying the deceased, but are not in a position to release further details.
- Rotorua bus crash: Passenger tells Chinese-language media bus turned sharply then braked
- As it happened: Police reveal details on horror bus crash near Rotorua
- Rotorua bus crash: Survivors recount horrific moments before accident
The cause of the crash is unconfirmed and the investigation is still ongoing.
The bus remains in secure storage and will be forensically examined over the next few days, says Crowe.
Police have extended thanks to the Chinese Ambassador and Chinese community for their ongoing support.
Chinese Ambassador Wu Xi arrived in Rotorua on Thursday to pay her respects to the victims of Wednesday's crash.
A working group from the Embassy, led by the Ambassador, offered their condolences, assisted the injured and met with local police, says the China Embassy.
Xi laid a bright bouquet of flowers at the crash site on Thursday morning.
The Embassy has called for all victims to receive full support and assistance.
The injured were taken to several hospitals in different cities, including Rotorua Hospital and Waikato Hospital.
Three tourists are currently at Waikato Hospital with serious injuries, but are said to be in a stable condition. Lakes District Health Board says seven patients have been admitted to Rotorua Hospital in a stable condition as of 9am on Thursday.
Victim Support service coordinator for Lakes Hub, Lil Hancock, told Newshub "it's important for the victims to get emotional support quickly".
"Two volunteers were with the families at Waikato Hospital for eight hours plus yesterday. They have been supporting survivors and translators," she said.
"Victim Support has helped the translators to ensure victims and their families know support is available."
There were high winds, rain, fog and the road was slippery when the bus failed to take a "moderate to easy" bend and flipped onto the driver's side. The driver was not seriously injured.
The woman told SkyKiwi the bus turned sharply, almost 360 degrees, before the driver braked on slippery road.
SkyKiwi reports witnesses found the bus on its side partially submerged in water, the windscreen damaged and some passengers still trapped inside.
"The driver of the bus was one of the survivors. He wasn't in a serious condition so will likely be the centre of their investigation," Newshub reporter Emma Cropper told The AM Show.
"It was very wet in Rotorua yesterday, it is still very much like that here today. It could be very likely that the weather did play a part.
"Police are saying that it's way too early in their investigation, but they will be looking at that to determine just how these people did end up in such a horrific crash yesterday."
Newshub.
