Rioting over Christmas Island death

DETAINEES at Christmas Island detention centre are rioting over the death of an Iranian asylum seeker, a refugee advocate says.

REFUGEE Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul says fences and walls have been knocked down and fires have been started in some sections of the detention centre.

The canteen has been burnt down," he told AAP.

The refugee group's claims could not be immediately verified.

Comment is being sought from the immigration department.

Meanwhile, a New Zealand detainee has told TVNZ guards have abandoned the centre.

"They've gone, they've freaked out and left," he said, according to audio provided to ABC radio.

A coroner will investigate the death of the Iranian Kurdish asylum seeker, named by refugee groups as seeker Fazel Chegeni.

His body was found on Sunday after he escaped from the centre on Friday.

Christmas Island shire president Gordon Thomson said the escape had triggered panic among local residents.

He told ABC radio he was disappointed the immigration department had "allowed rumour to spread" through the community without providing any information.

NZ Labour MP Kelvin Davis, who recently visited the island, said he'd been in touch with a New Zealander in detention on the island.

Mr Davis said he'd been told detainees had taken over the centre and guards had retreated.

He's claimed on ABC radio the riots began when a detainee who had asked questions about the death of the man was assaulted.

"They have put holes in the walls, so even if they are rounded up and put back in the cells they actually can't be locked up," he said.

The immigration department confirmed the disturbance and said no injuries had been reported.

It said it was working with service providers to resolve the situation.

"The department is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for detainees, and maintaining the good order of detention facilities," it said in a statement.

Any criminal offences would be referred to the police.

NZ detainee Lester Hohua told ABC radio convicted criminals with cancelled visas like him had joined forces with asylum seekers.

"It all went haywire," Hohua said, adding guards were only circling the perimeter of the compound.

The department said it would not be appropriate to make further detailed comments on matters subject to ongoing operations.