An alarm detection apparatus includes a plurality of alarm detectors detecting and/or cancelling alarms for identical and different error rates. The plurality of alarm detectors are grouped into a major detector unit made up of alarm detectors which detect major error rates, and a minor detector unit made up of alarm detectors which detect minor error rates. The major detector unit and the minor detector unit output detection outputs corresponding to specified detection rates thereof. A predetermined alarm detector corresponding to a part of the minor detector unit has a specified detection rate overlapping a specified detection rate of the major detector unit being controlled, so that a detection function or a detection output of the predetermined alarm detector is disabled.