Police and a fire safety investigator are looking into the cause of a gas explosion in Whakatane overnight.

Emergency services were called to the explosion and subsequent fire on Pohutu Street at about 9.30pm.

Gas explosion in Whakatane. Photo: Ngarangi Chapman.

The explosion happened at a building used to stored gas bottles and caused the back third of the 20 metres by 12 metres building to collapse.

No one was injured in the explosion.

Police cordoned off the street as four fire appliances worked to put the fire out and remove gas bottles from the scene, says a Northern Fire Communications spokesperson.

On Facebook last night, Lesley Brunsden reported a ''huge explosion followed by several more, lighting up the sky.''