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Up to 10 people have died in a huge blaze at a four-storey hostel in the New Zealand capital of Wellington overnight, with 11 guests still unaccounted for in what authorities have described as ‘our worst nightmare’.
The fire, which broke out at the Loafers Lodge Hostel in the central suburb of Newtown at 12.30am on Tuesday, is suspected to have been deliberately lit.
The 92-room hostel was home to hospital staff, Kiwis who have been deported from Australia, meat workers, pensioners and former prisoners on community release.
Emergency crews rescued 52 people from the inferno, with five people needing to be rescued from the roof and one person jumping from a third-storey window.
At least five people have been rushed to hospital, one in a serious condition and four in a stable condition. Fifteen others were treated at the scene.
At least 20 fire trucks were on the scene by 4am local time, with up to 90 firefighters battling what Wellington Fire and Emergency District Manager Pyatt has declared a ‘once-in-a-decade fire’.
By 11am Wellington time (9am AEST), fire crews said that anyone still alive had been rescued from the building.
Police will enter the charred hostel to investigate on Wednesday, and are yet to compile a full list of the people who were inside the building on Tuesday night.
State Coroner Anna Tutton said the bodies of the those lost in the fire would be treated with the utmost care and respect during the identification process.
Authorities confirmed the bodies of six people had been located inside the hostel and that the cause of the fire is still unknown.
Up to 90 firefighters fought the blaze at the Loafers Lodge during the early hours of Tuesday. Above, an anguished firefighter after the blaze was extinguished
A survivor, who appears to be clutching a bag of medication, speaks to National Party leader Christopher Luxon outside the Loafers Lodge
Up to 10 people have died in a huge blaze at a hostel in the New Zealand city of Wellington overnight, with 11 still unaccounted for
Fire and emergency crews were called to the Loafers Lodge Hostel on Adelaide Road just before 12:30am to battle a fire on the top floor
‘This is our once-in-a-decade fire for Wellington,’ Mr Pyatt said.
‘I can sadly report that this will be a multi-fatality incident. Our thoughts at this time are with the families of those who have perished and with our crews who valiantly rescued those and attempted to rescue those that they couldn’t.
‘This is our worst nightmare. It doesn’t get worse than this.’
Terrifying video and images captured by locals at the scene show large plumes of smoke and flames spewing from the hostel’s roof.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Deputy National Commander Brendon Nally told local radio there were no sprinklers in the building.
‘Building codes aren’t our business, but if it [the hostel] was sprinkled we wouldn’t be in the same situation as we are right now,’ he said.
He said ‘several dozen people’ are alive because of firefighter’s efforts.
A resident who lives on the third floor said two fires erupted at the hostel during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
During the second, he opened his door to find thick plumes of smoke and people yelling for help. He grabbed his phone and vape, but escaped without any shoes.
Loafer’s Lodge property manager Marie Murphy said a ‘real variety’ of people lived at the hostel, but tourists did not generally stay there.
‘We’ve got everyone living there. We have nurses. We’ve had doctors, nurses, unemployed people, meat workers, hospital staff. All sorts of people. A real variety of people,’ she told the NZ Herald.
A resident who lives on the third floor said there were two fires which broke out at the hostel during the early hours of Tuesday morning
It is understood there were no sprinklers in the hostel, which caught flame just before 12:30am
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau is pictured at the scene of the fatal hostel fire on Tuesday. She became emotional as she spoke of the impact of the fire on her city
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins (pictured) said it was a ‘really tragic situation’
Emergency services are seen dampening down hot spots at the site of the fatal fire at the Loafers Lodge hostel building
Many residents escaped from the hostel wearing only their pyjamas (crews at the scene)
By 11am Wellington time (9am AEST), fire crews said that anyone still alive had been rescued from the building (firefighters stand outside the hostel)
‘This is very sad for a lot of people. Not only the ones who’ve lost their lives, but those who’ve lost their homes. There’s a lot of full time people. A lot have been there longer than I’ve been there.
‘It just feels surreal. It doesn’t feel real. It’s very hard. It was a pretty bad fire. I’m feeling very sad at the moment. I really have no information about what has happened yet.’
Deportee advocate Filipa Payne said the hostel was used by the government and Prison Aid and Rehabilitation to accommodate returned ‘501 deportees’ – a local term used to describe Kiwis who have been kicked out of Australia.
‘There was quite a family unit. This is a horrible tragedy that will affect people that have been placed there through a traumatic and barbaric system,’ she told Stuff.
‘The people left behind who are already vulnerable and disconnected.’
A number of residents were under the care of the Wellington City Mission, which provides temporary accommodation for people with nowhere to live.
Community Corrections staff are working with FENZ and police to determine the safety of people on a community sentence and living at Loafer’s Lodge, Brittany McNamara, Lower North Deputy Regional Commissioner said in a statement.
‘Right now we can confirm we manage two people at the address on Extended Supervision Orders (ESO). Both of these people are accounted for and staff are moving them to suitable alternative accommodation.’
Wellington City Council said up to 50 people have been temporarily rehomed at the Newtown Park stadium, where they have received loaves of bread, clothes, towels and hygiene products.
Many residents escaped from the hostel wearing only their pyjamas.
At least six people have died in a horror hostel fire, with fears dozens could be unaccounted for
Wellington Fire and Emergency said 20 fire trucks were on the scene by 4am
The 92-room hostel was home to hospital staff, Kiwis who have been deported from Australia, meat workers, pensioners and former prisoners on community release
A number of residents were under the care of the Wellington City Mission, which provides temporary accommodation for people with nowhere to live
New Zealand Police Wellington Area Commander Inspector Dean Silvester is pictured speaking to media in front of the Loafers Lodge
Onlookers reported on social media that the fire had appeared to be under control, before starting up again. The fire was put out just after 6am local time.
The roof of the hostel is caving in and is at risk of collapse, with the presence of asbestos adding to the danger at the scene.
The hostel, which is believed to have 92 rooms, had no vacancies at the time except for a number of rooms being treated for bedbugs.
Residents in the area were told to stay inside and to close their doors and windows due to the smoke plume.
People in the Wellington CBD have been advised to wear a mask to protect from the asbestos with traffic between the central city and southern suburbs likely to be diverted for several hours.
Wellington mayor Tory Whanau became emotional as she described the impact of the fatal blaze on her city, saying she was ‘devastated’.
At least one person was injured as they tried to jump from a third-floor window, while five people were rescued from the roof with an aerial appliance (crews at the scene)
The hostel has capacity for 92 people, however it unclear how many people were inside when the fire broke out just before 12:30am
‘I dare say it’s been a shock to the system – a very emotional few minutes with the crew here,’ she told TVNZ’s Breakfast.
‘I’m feeling a lot of pain and emotion at those who have been lost.’
Mayor Whanau acknowledged the courage of the 20 fire crews who fought the blaze and said she was ‘feeling the emotion’ at the scene.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said it was a ‘really tragic situation’.
He said the cause of the blaze would be investigated after crews had made sure everyone had been removed from the building and the fire had been put out.
‘Our thoughts will be with all of the firefighters involved and all the victims of today’s tragedy,’ he said.
‘It’s a really tragic situation.
‘For now I want to particularly acknowledge the firefighters who have put themselves in harm’s way over past hours to get people out of the building and put the fire out.’
Deportee advocate Filipa Payne said the hostel (pictured before the fire) was used by the government and Prison Aid and Rehabilitation to accommodate returned deportees
Terrifying video and images captured by locals at the scene show large plumes of smoke and flames spewing from the hostel’s roof (pictured)
Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson said the fatal blaze was ‘absolutely devastating news to wake up to’.
‘My heart goes out to everyone who has been hurt and to the friends and families of the victims,’ he said.
‘Obviously there will be thorough investigations of what has happened here, but for now the most important thing is that everyone stays safe and we look after those who has been affected.’
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