Home affairs says a man was treated in hospital but details about the fate of inmates and damage to the Yongah Hill centre near Perth remain unclear

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Three days after fire tore through the Yongah Hill immigration detention centre, government officials and private contractors have refused to answer key questions about the incident and the treatment of detainees.

On Sunday evening ambulance services were called to the centre in Northam, east of Perth, after a young man attempted to take his own life, which sparked unrest, followed by a fire breaking out.

Fellow detainees, who believed he had died, alleged they had warned authorities he was distressed. He remains on life support in a Perth hospital.

Some hours later the fire started. Amid the confusion, chaos and lack of public information, rumours have swirled.

Detainees, family members and advocates have alleged emergency services and staff took at least one hour to respond to the fire, that there was no assistance evacuating detainees from the compound, and that no one received medical checks after the incident.

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On Monday night and throughout Tuesday there were reports that the man, 22-year-old Saruuan Aljhelie had died, or that his life-support system was turned off.

“Somebody killed my son,” his father told Channel 7.

Family members told Perth Now the man, a father of two, had been transferred from the Villawood detention centre in Sydney to Yongah Hill a few weeks ago, but none of them knew why, and they said he was not getting the mental healthcare he needed.

There were also numerous claims that the Yongah Hill centre was being closed, and that anywhere between 20 and all of the detainees were being transferred to Christmas Island.

Guardian Australia has sought to verify these and other claims, but multiple authorities refused to answer questions, instead directing inquiries to the Australian Border Force, which also refused to answer.

Dozens of videos and photos from inside the centre show detainees arguing with guards about the apparent death of their friend, shaking the tall internal gates. The images later show fire raging at the Falcon compound, with buildings completely consumed by flames. In one photograph a detainee is seen climbing over a tall fence into a neighbouring compound to escape the fire.

Fire services, police and centre staff are not visible in those videos.

On Monday the department of home affairs said a man was being treated in hospital with “appropriate medical care”, and that a crime scene had been established at the fire site and charges were being considered. It would make no further comment on detainee movements, its statement said.

“As a result of this incident some detainees from Yongah Hill will need to be transferred within the broader detention network while repairs are carried out,” it said.

Asked about transfers to Christmas Island, the department said its statement from Monday remained current – it would not speak on movements.

Several videos posted on social media showed detainees claiming they had been told to get on buses. Others filmed from inside buses said they were on the way to the airport and Christmas Island.

A spokeswoman for WA fire and emergency services said they first received a call about a fire – believed to have started around 9-9.30pm – at 10.01pm, and a triple-0 call a few minutes later. The first of 12 crews was onsite at 10.16pm.

Detainees have alleged fire crews were not immediately able to access the fire area, but the spokeswoman said that was not her information.

The initial estimate of damage was around $500,000.

St John Ambulance confirmed it received a call around 6pm, and transferred one male patient to the Northam regional hospital.

The St John spokesman said that was the only transport conducted by ambulance services from Yongah Hill, but was unable to confirm if they had attended the centre later without needing to transport anyone. Further inquiries were directed to Border Force.

Other clips from inside the centre include audio of dogs barking and guards ordering detainees out of areas, and photos appear to show groups of people seated on the ground in an open area.

Guardian Australia has received photographs and video that show detainees in flexicuffs, and dozens of men sleeping on the floor of a common area.

Other videos shot on Monday purport to show the drinking water having been turned off inside the Hawke compound.

Family members and detainees also said they had repeatedly raised concerns about the lack of medical staff outside office hours, and the inadequate level of mental healthcare available, despite the complex needs of a number of detainees. This concern was also raised by the Australian Human Rights Commission in a 2017 review.

At least one detainee is in solitary confinement in a locked room after Sunday’s incident. “Just one mattress and nothing else – I can’t see anyone and guards take me out for five minutes only,” he said, adding that his request for a doctor was denied.

Another made serious allegations against staff from Serco, the private contractor operating the facility, relating to verbal racial abuse and bullying, and goading of suicidal detainees.

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A number of social media posts by New Zealand nationals inside Yongah Hill – who make up a substantial portion of detainees – sought to distance “Maori and Islander” men from any involvement in Sunday’s incident.

Guardian Australia contacted the home affairs department, Border Force, Serco and IHMS, the private contractor providing healthcare at the facility, with detailed questions about the events on Sunday night and Monday morning, as well as the level of healthcare inside the centre, lack of water, detainee transfers and allegations against staff.

A Serco spokesman said he was unaware of the mistreatment allegations, but later provided a statement that staff were fully trained in their responsibilities and requirements, and performed important jobs “on a daily basis often in difficult circumstances”.

“Complaints processes are available to all detainees, including via a number of external agencies such as the ombudsman. Where complaints are received they are reported and investigated.”

He said there were no substantiated claims against staff members in the last two months, declining to look back any further, and directed all other queries to IHMS and Border Force.

IHMS directed inquiries to Border Force.

Border Force directed Guardian Australia to its earlier statement – that it would be making no more statements.

• Crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78