Refugees barricade themselves in closed Manus camp

Tensions are running high on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, where there are widespread reports that locals are looting an Australian-run detention camp that was officially closed on Tuesday.

About 600 refugees are refusing to leave the facility over safety concerns.

The camp, which was widely condemned by human rights groups for its poor treatment of refugees, was recently deemed illegal and Australia agreed to close it and pay compensation to refugees.

But as the facility was decommissioned and security forces left, refugees reported armed looters.

Al Jazeera’s Charlotte Bellis reports.