A man is in a critical condition after he was shot by police in Far North Queensland.

Police say they were called to the intersection of Elphinstone Street and Ramsey Drive in Kanimbla, Cairns about 10.30am (AEST) to reports a man was armed with a knife.

When police arrived the man approached officers with the knife and an officer shot him.

He was taken to Cairns Hospital in a critical condition.

Both streets are now closed and two crime scenes have been declared.

An Ethical Standards Command investigation is under way with oversight from the Crime and Corruption Commission.

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