One injured as shots ring out at Manus Island immigration detention centre

Shots have been fired and at least one asylum seeker injured during a violent incident at the Manus Island detention centre.

The Australian Immigration and Border Protection Department confirmed in a statement an "incident" had occurred at the detention centre and it was monitoring the situation.

"There are reports PNG military personnel discharged a weapon into the air during the incident," the department said.

The department said a male detainee had been injured when he was hit by a rock.

The violence reportedly broke out when locals tried to put an end to a soccer game that was being played by asylum seekers.

The detainees were forced to shelter inside when locals stormed the facility, with reports of sustained gunfire.

Initial reports suggested both Papua New Guinean Police and Navy were involved in the shooting.

One detainee identified as "Mahoud" has filmed himself describing the attack, claiming a local armed with a shotgun was responsible.

His account is repeatedly interrupted by the sound of gunshots.

Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian-born journalist and asylum seeker held on Manus Island, tweeted that some shots had hit buildings in the compound.

"Navy have shot more than 100 times, some of the bullets have hit rooms. The situation on #Manus is critical," he wrote.