At Least 6 People Dead, 11 Missing After Hostel Fire In New Zealand

At least six people were killed in a massive fire that broke out at a hostel in New Zealand on Tuesday, with officials expecting the toll to rise as 11 people still remain missing.

Emergency services dampen down hot spots at the site of the fatal fire at the Loafers Lodge hostel building in the Wellington suburb of Newtown that has killed up to 6 people

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New Delhi: At least six people were killed in a massive fire that broke out at a hostel in New Zealand on Tuesday, with officials expecting the toll to rise as 11 people still remain missing, reported Reuters.

The blaze broke out on the top floor of Loafers Lodge in the Wellington neighbourhood of Newtown just after midnight, Reuters reported citing police officials.

According to Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), firefighters are on the scene as there are still small fires inside the building, and structural and risks assessments along with a probe to identify the cause of the fire are also underway, reported the news agency Reuters.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told the AM morning news program that six were dead and police said that they expect the death toll will be fewer than 10.

He visited the site and spoke with emergency service providers, according to Reuters.

While speaking to the media after the visit, Hipkins said, "It is an absolute tragedy and it is a horrific situation."

"In the fullness of time, of course there will be a number of investigations about what has happened and why it happened but for now, the focus needs to be on dealing with the situation," he added.

District Manager Commander Nick Pyatt said in a statement, "This is a once-in-a-decade fire for Wellington. It’s the worst nightmare for us."

"This is a tragic event for all involved. My heartfelt condolences go to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives," it further said.

According to Reuters, a resident of Loafers Lodge, Tala Sili, said that he saw smoke coming under his door and opened it to find the hallway full of smoke. After seeing the smoke, he decided to jump out the window onto a roof two floors below.

"It was just scary, it was really scary, but I knew I had to jump out the window or just burn inside the building," he told state-owned Radio New Zealand.

Police said they will not have more information until the 92-room building is safe to enter, and there remains a risk the roof will collapse.