At least 15 people were reportedly killed during rioting in Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby on Thursday.
The unrest began in the major city on Wednesday after hundreds of police officers, soldiers, prison staff and servants walked off their jobs over pay dispute.
The Papua New Guinea government attributed the pay cut to an administrative glitch.
Hundreds marched the streets demanding pay hikes. Several shops were looted as well. Rioting was reported in Lae, the second-biggest city in the southwestren Pacific country too.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, at least 15 people died in Port Moresby and Lae.
An additional security force flew into Port Moresby on Thursday to calm situation in the cities.
Amid the surging unemployment and increased living costs, tensions are on the rise in the country.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said Port Moresby was under stress and duress but that violence had eased.
Since the police officials were not on work yesterday, riots went out of hand causing severe damage to the state properties and lives. “Police were not at work yesterday in the city and people resorted to lawlessness, not all people, but in certain segments of our city,” Marape said.
Marape gave the assurance that the 'glitch' over pay dispute will be addressed.
Many shops and banking services were closed and public transport facilities came to a halt in the wake of the riots.
Amid tensions, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appealed for calm.
A bilateral security pact was signed by Papua New Guinea and Australia last month.
Police went on a strike after their salaries were reduced. The government circulated messages on social media denying that a new tax had been imposed on police, and Marape vowed to fix any administrative error that had caused the pay shortfall.
