UPDATED 2.55PM: Tauranga Airport has been evacuated this afternoon, following a false alarm.

A fire and emergency spokesperson from Mount Maunganui fire station says it was a small hot water cylinder that blew up and set off the smoke alarm.

'There was no fire, just water that had got into the smoke alarm.”

EARLIER:

Tauranga Airport has been evacuated this afternoon.

A caller to the 0800 SUNLIVE news hotline, who is at the airport, says alarms have been sounding for the last three minutes.

"People are being told to evacuate the building via the nearest fire exit.

"I don;t know why, but we have all been told to leave."

Firefighters have been called to the airport to investigate the alarms.

At the scene?

Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz