A man armed with a machete and a knife has been shot dead by police in a busy coastal area of northeast Queensland.

Officers were called to McKinley Street near The Strand in Townsville’s North Ward about 9.50am on Saturday following reports of a man carrying weapons.

Police say the man advanced towards officers while armed, prompting them to open fire.

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Paramedics treated him at the scene for critical injuries to his chest, abdomen and legs, but he could not be saved.

No police officers or members of the public were physically hurt.

“The matter is under investigation by the Ethical Standards Command, with oversight by the Crime and Corruption Commission,” police said in a statement.

Superintendent Chris Lawson said “a number of” officers were involved in the shooting but declined to specify how many, noting all are receiving support from peer officers.

He also declined to say how many shots were fired, citing the ongoing investigation.

Lawson said both the machete and knife have been seized, and confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the community.

“This matter today will obviously serve as a stark reminder that the job that the police do every day across our state is dangerous and on occasions we are called to use lethal force,” Lawson said.

He also acknowledged the rise in knife-related crime.

“The prevalence of knife crime across our community is very concerning and we’re taking an active role in ensuring that it doesn’t continue to form an issue for community safety,” he said.

Police are now urging anyone who had any interaction with the man before the incident to come forward.