UPDATE 12pm: Two bodies have been recovered from a vehicle that plunged into Lake Rotoma on Saturday.

Police have confirmed that two people have died after their vehicle went off the road into Lake Rotoma yesterday.

The car has been winched to the surface of the lake, after being submerged in water for almost 24 hours.

A Sunlive photographer at the scene this morning says the car appeared to be a station wagon and had sustained damage to its front and roof. A hearse was waiting nearby.

Emergency services were notified yesterday at 12.40pm of the single-vehicle crash on State Highway 30. The vehicle was recovered this morning.

Two people were recovered deceased from the lake by the Police Dive Squad.

Police are working to support the family of those who have died.

UPDATE 10am: Divers are in the water at Lake Rotoma this morning in cold drizzling rain, in an attempt to extricate a vehicle that plunged from State Highway 30 into the lake on Saturday.

"The Police Dive Squad arrived at 8am," says a SunLive reporter at the scene. "There are buoys on the surface of the water marking where the vehicle is located about three metres from shore. Divers are in the water."

Emergency services responded to an incident involving a car plunging into the lake at Otangiwai Point on Saturday at around 12.40pm. The car was unable to be pulled out of the lake and attempts continue this morning.

A maritime patrol vessel is patrolling the lake area at Otangiwai Point and booms have been placed around the small inlet near where the vehicle is sitting underwater.

It is unknown how many occupants were in the car when it went into the water

A heavy haulage truck and a tow truck are parked in the layby at Otangiwai Point next to State Highway 30. Maori wardens are at the scene assisting, with keeping the nearby access tracks closed while the operation takes place.

"There are no other boats in the water apart from the maritime patrol boats. And there's not much traffic on the road this morning," says a SunLive reporter.

Police advise motorists that State Highway 30 near Lake Rotoma is open following the crash yesterday.

Earlier, 8.45am:

The Police Dive Squad have arrived this morning to assist at the scene of a car that plunged into Lake Rotoma yesterday afternoon.

Emergency services responded to an incident involving a car plunging into the lake at Otangiwai Point on Saturday. The crash was reported at 12.40pm.

Police were unable to ascertain the number of occupants in the vehicle. The Serious Crash Unit was also investigating.

There was an ongoing effort to extricate the vehicle from the water on Saturday and this will continue on Sunday morning.

A scene guard was in place overnight.

Police advise that State Highway 30 is currently open, and that there are no immediate plans for it to close today.

SunLive will provide updates this morning.