“At least ten people” dead after suspicious Wellington hostel fire
At least six people have been killed after a fire ripped through a central Wellington hostel early on Tuesday morning.
Fire crews were called to the scene just after midnight local time to find the building well ablaze.
At its peak more than 90 firefighters were involved in the battle.
New Zealand prime minister Chris Hipkins told media this morning that as many as ten people could have died as a result.
A witness told Radio New Zealand almost all of the 92 rooms in the building were occupied at the time of the fire.
#BREAKING: New Zealand PM Chris Hipkins tells local media at least six people dead following large fire at four-story Wellington hostel, adding that death toll is "likely" to rise pic.twitter.com/UoC0DdXbXf
— I.E.N. (@BreakingIEN) May 15, 2023
Around 52 people were treated either by paramedics or in hospital, which is located across the road from the hostel. As many as 30 are still unaccounted for.
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau told Newshub she burst into tears when hearing of the deaths in the fire.
“I feel pretty devastated,” she said.
Police have confirmed the fire is being treated as suspicious.
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