A fire that broke out in a New Zealand hostel with four floors has killed at least six people.

The number of deaths could increase, according to officials. 11 people remain missing.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins described the fire as an “absolute catastrophe” and “horrific”.

The hostel’s 92 rooms accommodated construction workers, hospital employees and people serving community sentences for minor crimes.

Advertisement

Grant Robertson, Wellington Central MP, said that some of the hostel residents were vulnerable and lost their possessions in the fire.

Officials have confirmed that 52 people are missing. One person was taken to Wellington Hospital in a serious state, and four other people were described as in a mild condition.

The police have called in specialists from all over the country to investigate this fire, whose cause is still unknown.

Bruce Stubbs, assistant national commander of Fire and Emergency NZ, told the New Zealand Herald the fire is being treated as “suspicious”.

“It was really frightening”

Radio New Zealand reported that Filipa Payne, a deportee advocate, said a number were staying in the hostel. She believes some of these people are missing.

Tala Sili, a resident of the hostel, told the media outlet about his escape.

He said: It was scary. I was scared. But I knew that I had to jump from the window, or I would burn in the building.

Simon Hanify, who told the same radio station that he lived in the hostel for 5 months, added that false fire alarms were common.

Click here to read more

Former New Zealand PM joins Harvard

New Zealand cancels cat-killing competition for children

He had pounded on the doors of his fellow hostel residents despite his injury.

He said: “When he left his room, he could smell smoke in a hallway.

“I ran straight to the kitchen, and I saw smoke coming down the stairs.

“I did a full circle of our floor, saying: “Everyone out! This one is real.”

Tamrat Isse Adan, another resident, told Stuff.co.nz that “the alarms keep going every week. They go twice, three times. There’s no management there.”

Mr Adan fled with only his jacket and mobile phone, and he said that he did not know where he would sleep tonight.

“A tragic event”

Police said that the fire started on the top floor at Loafers Lodge shortly after midnight. The cause of the fire was not revealed.

Nick Pyatt, Wellington’s fire chief, said that the fire was a “once-in-a decade” event for Wellington. It is our worst nightmare.

“This is an unfortunate event for everyone involved.

“My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.”

On Tuesday morning, firefighters were still on the scene extinguishing small fires that remained and assessing the structure of the building.

The roof of the top floor collapsed and brought down debris, so not all parts of the building were searched.

The 92-room apartment building was confirmed by firefighters to be without sprinklers.

Dion Bennett said that specialist investigators from all over the country, as well as investigative teams, had been brought in.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told AM, a breakfast television show, after visiting the site and speaking with emergency workers: “It’s an absolute tragedy. It’s a horrible situation.”

“In due course, there will be many investigations into what happened and why, but right now, we need to focus on the current situation.”

Stuff.co.nz reported that the manager of the hostel, Marie Murphy, said that residents include doctors and nurses who work at the hospital nearby, as well as unemployed people and workers in the meat industry.

She said: “This is very tragic for many people, not just those who have lost their lives but also those who have lost their homes.”