Thousands of litres of bitumen has leaked from a truck and a small fire has been extinguished after a breakdown near Rotorua.

State Highway 5 between Ngongotahā Rd and Barnard Rd is now closed and motorists are asked to take alternative routes due to “significant delays.”

Emergency services were called to the breakdown about between Henderson Rd and Fairy Springs Rd, about 6am, police said.

Thousands of litres of bitumen now contained

A Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) spokesman said the leak had now been contained after about 12,000 litres of bitumen had leaked from the truck towards a drain at a rate of 4 litres per minute.

The spokesman said the bitumen had now been contained in a “bunded area” - a walled area used to contain a spill.

The process to decant the remaining bitumen had also began, he said.

Fenz called for further help after a small fire started in the truck during the decanting process which had since been extingushed.

Three fire appliances, two support vehicles, a Hazmat unit, water tanker, digger and bobcat were on scene.

Fenz crews were assisting contractors using personal protecting equipment and breathing apparatus.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council had been advised and were coming from Tauranga, the spokesman said.

-Rotorua Daily Post.