Auckland’s Newmarket train station and nearby buildings have been evacuated this afternoon after a fire, with one witness reporting a “big bang”.

Smoke can be seen billowing from a building nearby and up to eight fire trucks have been reported on the scene.

Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) said several of its crews were attending “a large rubbish fire” located in a basement carpark. All persons were accounted for, FENZ said.

Auckland resident Georgina Fortes-Upoko said she was sitting in the courtyard at Newmarket station when she heard the alarm go off.

”Then I heard a big bang. All this smoke came out of the south side of the station where trains come from.”

A witness told the Herald he heard loud muffled explosion sounds coming from behind him as he was sitting in his car inside the car park ready to leave.

”I am pretty shaken. Around 1.30pm, I was walking back to my car. I was sitting inside speaking to someone on the phone.

“Then suddenly in the middle of the conversation, I heard 4-5 explosion sounds coming from behind me. I looked up in the rearview mirror and I saw big flames, the ceiling was moving, there was thick black smoke and dust started falling off.”

It took a minute or two for the smoke to fill the entire area, the man said.

”I was four rows away from the site of the fire.

”I quickly moved my car, I couldn’t see the exit, I felt boxed in. The smell of smoke was quite strong. Then, firefighters came and directed me to the other exit.”

A stylist at the nearby YX Hair Salon told the Herald he had evacuated the building due to the fire.

“The fire is at the building’s ground floor ... the car park”, he said.

“There are about eight fire trucks outside at the moment.”

A resident of an apartment on station square said they evacuated after the fire alarm went off. The glass doors in two shops in the square popped out and collapse, he said.

Emergency services on the scene in Auckland's Newmarket after a fire this afternoon. Photo / Michael Craig

Fire at Newmarket station car park in Auckland. Photo / Supplied by Yiwei Hou

All trains on the Auckland rail network have been held in place due to the fire near one of Auckland’s biggest and busiest metro railway stations.

“Due to a serious incident requiring emergency service responders in Newmarket, Newmarket Station is being evacuated,” Auckland Transport said.

“Please expect delays and cancellations on Western, Southern and Onehunga Lines as some trains are held on the track.”

In an update at about 3.40pm, AT said the Newmarket Station remains closed.

“Western, Southern and Eastern Line trains will run as normal except they will not stop at Newmarket Station. Onehunga Line trains will run between Penrose and Onehunga. This train will not run to timetable, just each way between the stations.”

A passenger in Parnell said trains were now being evacuated.

Commuters are told to expect delays. Police are also responding to the incident.

Due to the incident, part of Remuera Rd between Broadway and Nuffield St is closed, Auckland Transport advises.