An Iranian Kurdish asylum seeker who died outside Christmas Island's detention centre may have suffered fatal injuries from falling into a trench surrounding the facility, the shire president says.
A coroner will investigate the death of the man on Sunday, named by refugee groups as Fazel Chegeni.
Shire president Gordon Thomson believed the detainee had "been driven to his death by his detention".
"He sadly jumped the fence and ran through the dark and fell into a pit and died from his injuries," Mr Thomson told AAP.
"That's speculation, but we shouldn't be allowed to speculate. We should be told.
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"Of course the department won't say anything because it's subject to a coroner's inquiry."
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told parliament he had been advised there was no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
Mr Thomson said he and other residents were frustrated the Department of Immigration and Border Protection hadn't informed them about a stand-off that was sparked by the death, forcing them to rely on media reports.
"We've got people in the community who are getting a bit funny about it all. They need to know."
He said the department should also keep media more informed.
"They used to do it. Why isn't the department doing it now? It's turned into a military organisation, that's why, and secrecy of operations.
"It's a civilian bloody outfit and they should be providing information to the rest of us."
The department denies there is a large-scale riot at the centre, as claimed by some refugee advocates, instead describing the detainee protest as "a major disturbance".
A local, who did not want to be named, said he had heard tactical response officers were being flown in.
He said he was concerned about a break-out, given some of the detainees were non-citizens with criminal convictions awaiting deportation.
"A couple of years ago, asylum seekers pushed a few fences down and came through town, but they were a bit more peaceful, I would imagine, than the people who are there now.
"It's a worry, that's for sure.
"Hopefully they'll get it under control."
The department confirmed several fires had been lit and property had been damaged, but there had been no reports of injuries.
