Mass breakout at Darwin detention centre

Ninety-two Afghan asylum seekers have broken out of a Darwin detention centre and are protesting on the road outside.

Northern Territory police are negotiating with the detainees who are sitting outside the centre's fenced boundary, protesting peacefully, a police spokeswoman said.

The protesters have unveiled a banner saying "We need protection not detention''.

The mass breakout follows two days of protests at the centre.

On Sunday, accused Indonesian people smugglers rioted, setting mattresses on fire and brandishing poles on a rooftop.

More than 100 detainees continued rooftop and ground protests on Monday before order was restored on Tuesday.

The Immigration Department has confirmed the breakout.

Spokesman Sandi Logan said the main concern was early morning traffic being affected by the protest.

Mr Logan said he believed only 60 or 70 detainees breached the boundary fence about 7am local time and were slowly being moved back inside the centre.

"They are being very co-operative,'' he told Sky News.

He said the protest was on a busy intersection.

"I think the only concern, without being flippant, is the traffic.

"They are on the road and (disrupting) the early morning rush hour traffic here in Darwin.''

He said authorities would investigate how the detainees were able to escape from the facility.

"We expect to get a quick report on that,'' he said.

Mr Logan said police were still deciding whether to charge the Indonesian accused people smugglers who rioted on Sunday and Monday.

- AAP