At least 15 people have been killed during rioting and looting in Papua New Guinea, according to reports.

Unrest began in the capital Port Moresby on Wednesday after hundreds of police officers, soldiers, prison staff and public servants walked off their jobs in protest over a pay dispute.

Similar riots also caused damage in Lae, the second-biggest city in the southwestern Pacific country, with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reporting the deaths in the two cities.

The government attributed the pay cut to an administrative glitch with an additional 180 defence personnel flown into Port Moresby on Thursday.

Prime Minister James Marape said Port Moresby was “under stress and duress” but that violence had eased.

“Police were not at work yesterday in the city and people resorted to lawlessness — not all people, but in certain segments of our city,” he said in a news conference on Thursday. “(The) situation report as of this morning shows tension in the city has subsided.”

Many shops and banking services were closed on Thursday as business owners repaired damage.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appealed for calm. He said his government had not received any requests for help from its closest neighbour.

Papua New Guinea and Australia last month signed a bilateral security pact.

“Our high commission in Port Moresby are keeping a very close eye on what is occurring there, making sure Australians are looked after,” Mr Albanese told reporters.

Papua New Guinea struggles to contain escalating tribal violence and civil unrest in remote regions and has a long-term aim to increase its police numbers from 6,000 officers to 26,000.

Tensions in the country have risen amid high unemployment and increased living costs.