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Buddhist-led mobs tore through streets hurling stones at the offices and residences of international aid workers in Myanmar's western Rakhine state , prompting the evacuation of some staff members.
The violence started in the state capital Sittwe late on Wednesday and picked up again early , with angry crowds swelling in size from several hundred to more than 1,000.
At least one building was looted and several cars were damaged, aid officials said.
Religious hatred and violence has left up to 280 people dead and sent another 140,000 fleeing their homes since Myanmar emerged from military rule.
Most of the victims have been members of the Rohingya Muslim minority, many of whom have lived in the country for generations but are denied citizenship by national law.
Aid groups providing care for the displaced have faced threats and intimidation.
Last month, Doctors Without Borders was expelled from Rakhine in part because its staff included Rohingya.
Tensions in Rakhine have been soaring ahead of a national census, with many Buddhists saying minority members should not be allowed to identify themselves as Rohingya.
Religious flags have been placed in front of almost every house and office in Sittwe as a sign of protest and 300 people surrounded Malteser International late on Wednesday following reports that a woman had removed a Buddhist flag from the group's office.
Police fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.
The violence continued , with more than 1,000 people running through a street housing international aid workers, throwing rocks at their homes and damaging several of them.
"If police stopped them at one place, the mob moved to a different location and threw stones at NGO houses," Sittwe resident Aung Than said.
"NGO staff treated our religious flag with disrespect."
Police escorted aid workers from their homes for safety reasons.
Other aid groups said they were evacuating non-essential staff and emergency charter flights had been arranged.
A 6pm curfew was imposed and authorities were driving around the city announcing the curfew through loudspeakers, with soldiers and police stationed near UN and aid group offices.
