WELLINGTON -- A least one person is dead and three are badly injured after a van carrying 10 Chinese tourists plunged into a river in the far south of New Zealand's South Island, according to reports Tuesday.

One person was dead at the scene after the van plunged into the Mataura River, south of the ski resort of Queenstown, Fairfax NZ News reported.

A woman in her 40s with possible spinal injuries, and another person with possible head injuries had been separately flown to Southland Hospital, in Invercargill.

A woman, whose age was not known, was being flown to Dunedin Hospital with possible chest injuries, accompanied by an uninjured person from the scene.

Five patients with minor or no injuries were also being taken to Southland Hospital.

In total two ambulances, three rescue helicopters and two response vehicles had gone to the accident after it was reported at 1.20 pm, said the report.