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Inmates have lit fires at Australia's Christmas Island detention centre in a "major disturbance" that is yet to be resolved, say government officialsm according to BBC.

The immigration department confirmed in a statement that guards had been withdrawn for "safety reasons".
Medical, educational and sporting facilities have been damaged.

The statement denied a "large-scale riot" was taking place but said the situation at the centre for refugees and asylum seekers was "tense".

The Christmas Island centre also houses New Zealanders facing deportation from Australia.

The unrest started after a group of Iranian inmates began protesting about the death of an Iranian Kurd, Fazel Chegeni, who had escaped from the facility on Saturday, said the statement.

Mr Chegeni's body was found at the bottom of a cliff on Sunday, it said. A report on his death was being prepared for the coroner.

"While peaceful protest is permissible, other detainees took advantage of the situation to engage in property damage and general unrest," said the officials. It said a number of small fires had been lit within the complex.

"A group of detainees, believed to be non-citizens whose visas have been cancelled under mandatory cancellation provisions, continue to agitate and cause damage to the facility," it added.

"There are no reports at this time of any injuries to detainees or staff."

Ian Rintoul, of the Refugee Action Coalition group, told the Sydney Morning Herald that Mr Chegeni was "suffering the effects of long-term arbitrary detention".

"He had told other detainees that he could no longer stand being in detention and just wanted 'to go outside'," he said.