Papua New Guinea (PNG), situated in the Australian continent, is grappling with widespread chaos as police officers stage a strike due to unpaid wages. Reports indicate that the capital city, Port Moresby, witnessed violent incidents where shops were attacked and set ablaze.

The Pacific Island nation has been dealing with a surge in violent crime over the past year, adding to the challenges faced by its police force. The strike was initiated on Wednesday morning when officers discovered a decrease in their pay.

The latest updates reveal a grim toll, with at least 15 casualties reported during the night of intense rioting. In Port Moresby, eight individuals lost their lives, while an additional seven were killed in Lae, located in the northern part of the country..

Prime Minister James Marape condemned the "lawlessness" and emphasized that such actions would not be tolerated. Angry crowds looted shops and set buildings on fire throughout Wednesday evening, marking a disturbing turn of events in Papua New Guinea.

On Wednesday, disturbing footage depicted fires raging in the city, while reports from the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier revealed that firefighters faced threats as they attempted to quell the flames. Protesters went so far as to burn down the guard house at the parliament, intensifying the turmoil.

In the absence of police presence, Port Moresby had spiraled into a state of chaos, according to Parkop, who stated in a broadcast that the city had "lost control," leading to unfortunate casualties.

The catalyst for this upheaval was a police strike initiated on Wednesday morning, triggered by the shocking discovery of reduced pay. The government responded to the unrest by refuting claims of a new tax on police through social media channels. Prime Minister James Marape, in a vow to address any administrative errors causing the pay shortfall, aimed to restore order.

This unsettling development comes at a time when the police in this Pacific Island nation have been grappling with a surge in violent crime over the past year.

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