Wellington hostel fire – live: Survivors had to choose whether to ‘jump out the window or just burn’
At least six people are dead and 11 are missing
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Your support makes all the difference.At least six people are dead and 11 are missing after a fire broke out at a four-storey hostel in Wellington, New Zealand.
The 92-room Loafers Lodge hostel in Newtown, in Wellington’s south, caught alight just after midnight on Monday, prompting an evacuation.
Local fire chief Nick Pyatt said it was a “once in a decade fire” for the nation’s capital, describing the tragedy as “the worst nightmare for us”.
The prime minister, Chris Hipkins, who visited the scene on Tuesday morning, said at least six people had died.
“I understand six confirmed previously and it looks like there are likely to be more.”
Residents have described horrific details of making split second decisions to save their lives as the fire engulfed their building.
“It was just scary, it was really scary, but I knew I had to jump out the window or just burn inside the building,” Tala Sili, a resident of the lodge, told news outlet RNZ.
The Loafers Lodge offered basic, affordable rooms with shared lounges, kitchens and laundry facilities to people of a wide range of ages.
Authorities had 'no concern' during recent inspection of hostel
The Loafers Lodge building was inspected and issued a building warrant of fitness by the Wellington City Council in March this year, according to New Zealand based news website Stuff.
“There were no concerns raised by the independently qualified person who inspected and tested the life safety systems in the building,” spokesperson Richard MacLean was quoted as saying.
'An absolute tragedy': Hipkins says there will be 'a number of investigations'
Prime minister Chris Hipkins told news reporters in the morning that a “number of investigations” will be carried out after a fire engulfed Loafers Lodge in Wellington.
However, he added that the focus currently remains on “dealing with the situation.”
“It is an absolute tragedy. It is a horrific situation,” the prime minister told reporters.
“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 clearly has to be on dealing with the situation.”
In pictures: View of the scene after fire at Loafers Lodge
'A dreadful human tragedy': Albanese expresses condolences for New Zealand
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese told reporters he had spoken with his New Zealand counterpart Chris Hipkins and offered Australian assistance.
“This is a dreadful human tragedy,” Mr Albanese said. “I expressed my condolences on behalf of Australia to our friends in New Zealand at this very difficult time.”
Loafers Lodge was home to several vulnerable people
Loafers Lodge, the hostel that was engulfed by fire overnight, provided a combination of short-term and long-term rentals at affordable rates to people visiting Wellington.
Its residents were mostly shift workers, elderly people, health workers and people in vulnerable housing conditions, according to residents, advocates, and the local health board.
Local media reports also state that the hostel was used by various government agencies to provide emergency accommodation to people who did not have a home.
The lodge advertises itself as an affordable place for people to stay while they are in the capital, whether on business or needing to visit the nearby Wellington Hospital.
It has 92 rooms and promotes them as being available long term.
11 people remain unaccounted for
Eleven people still remain unaccounted for as of 5pm local time, according to local media reports quoting officials.
Police have confirmed at least six bodies have been found but there are fears of more deaths as the authorities haven't yet started the identification process.
Meanwhile, several survivors were being treated at local hospitals and about 50 people who are displaced are being cared for by local agencies.
We are closing down this blog now, but we will keep monitoring the situation at Loafers Lodge and provide the latest updates.
For all the details, you can check out our story here.
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