It comes as the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said it had begun returning detainees to repaired cell compounds as workers continued to assess the full extent of repairs required across the facility.

Eleven photos of the destruction and two appearing to show two detainees involved in the unrest were released by the government on Wednesday afternoon.

They form part of what has been a limited picture of circumstances inside the facility since officials regained control on Tuesday after three days of rioting.

Mr Dutton has put the cost of the damage to the detention centre at more than $1 million.

The photos show a large number of smashed windows across the centre, trashed offices and canteen areas, and fire damage.

Detainees have destroyed equipment in common areas, including washing machines and dryers and air conditioning units.

In the images of the two detainees, the men are wearing scarves over their faces and lighting what appears to be a flare while one holds some kind of makeshift weapon.

Just how many of the detainees were involved in the riots is not clear, as communication with people inside the compound has been limited since Tuesday.

Mr Dutton said on Wednesday people "need to understand what we're dealing with here" as he described the population at Christmas Island as "serious criminals" who had access to fuel and a chainsaw during the unrest.

But Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said the government was "overstating" its depiction of the centre as a place dominated by hardened criminals.

The department said on Wednesday afternoon: "Repairs are under way on accommodation compounds in the centre as a priority, with detainees accommodated overnight in temporary but secure parts of the centre. Reports of detainees sleeping in 'cages' are false."

"Food and medical services are being provided and detainees who require medication are continuing to receive care and treatment as they normally would."

In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Dutton's office also confirmed that seven detainees had been transferred off Christmas island to a correctional facility in Western Australia.

"They are among a group of extreme risk individuals who are alleged to have been involved in the disturbance at the centre," a spokeswoman said.

"The detainees are travelling on a charter flight accompanied by security officers. Restraints are used where appropriate for the safety and security of detainees, staff and the aircraft.

"Investigations into the damage are continuing."

Labor has called for an independent and transparent inquiry into the riot, which ended on Tuesday with the use of force, including tear gas, on some detainees.

Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles said the government had serious questions to answer about its handling of the unrest, which broke out after the death of Iranian Kurd asylum seeker Fazel Chegeni.

"We need an independent and full investigation into the events that transpired following the death of a detainee outside the centre on Sunday, including the violent protests," Mr Marles said.

"It is critical we investigate the events at Christmas Island. We need to know that appropriate security is in place at the centre and staff are adequately trained to deal with detainees, including those that have had visas cancelled."

Follow us on Twitter