Photos of damage on Nauru released

The Department of Immigration has released photos of the damage caused at the detention centre on Nauru to the media.

Earlier, Immigration Minister Tony Burke says large group of detainees who rioted on Nauru face possible criminal prosecution under Nauru law and could be denied refugee status based on the character test.

He warned that the sort of crimes that appear to have been committed are crimes which carry serious prison sentences.

The five hour long riot, which razed most of the buildings at the Nauru centre, broke out yesterday following a peaceful protest by about 150 of the 545 male detainees at the centre.

The riot came hours after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced his hardline crackdown on boat people.

Freelance photographer Clint Deidenang says 95 per cent of the buildings at the immigration detention centre have been burned out, causing tens of millions of dollars in damage .