UPDATED 11.56am: A lot of smoke, but no real danger after a car caught on fire in the carpark of West City Mall in Henderson.

The mall was briefly evacuated as black smoke poured into the air.

Mall spokesperson Deb McGhie says it's all under control now and everyone's going back in. 

Eyewitnesses recall flames

Lisa Meiklejohn from Tony's Restaurant was setting up for the day, when she heard what sounded like a car backfiring.

She said the sirens came next.

"Obviously the whole mall has been evacuated. A car had blown up in the entrance to the carpark flames just everywhere, smoke everywhere."

Tyson Gracie was walking past the mall when the incident happened.

The 17-year-old says he saw a van on fire.

"You hear one of the tyres just pop and then it smelt like rubber, and then you hear another tyre pop and then you see the whole van just explode and then lift off the ground and then hit the ground again.

"And flames started bursting out of the side then up the side of the building."

No injuries

Westfield Mall says no one was injured in the incident.

A spokeswoman says it's thought the explosion happened because of a mechanical fault.

The Transport Agency says the fire at the mall has caused mayhem for all roads in the area.

In a tweet, it's asking people to avoid travel around Henderson.

Are you there? Give our newsroom a call at (09) 366 0466