UPDATE 1.56PM: The cause of a house fire in Whakatane, which occurred amid tsunami evacuations, is under investigation.

Three crews attended the fire on Goulstone Road, behind Whakatane High School.

"There were no injuries," says northern fire communications shift manager Mark Richards. "Three fire trucks attended the scene and the fire was brought under control after about half an hour."

There is no indication as to a cause and a fire investigator is currently on the scene.

EARLIER:

Eyewitnesses reported a large fire near Whakatane High School during evactuations of the area.

Whakatane, along with other areas east of Matata to Tolaga Bay, were evacuated earlier this morning after several seismic events, including a magnitude 8.1 earthquake near the Kermadec Islands, sparked a national tsunami warning.