Deadly Fire Engulfs New Zealand Hostel, Leaving At Least Six Dead

A deadly fire erupted in a hostel in New Zealand's capital city overnight, claiming at least six lives and forcing many residents to escape in their nightclothes. Fire and Emergency New Zealand's incident controller, Bruce Stubbs, described the incident as his "worst nightmare."

Authorities have reported that six bodies were discovered, but not all parts of the building had been explored due to the collapse of the top floor's roof, according to the Associated Press. This collapse resulted in an unsafe environment strewn with debris. While 52 people managed to escape the burning building, officials are still in the process of accounting for all residents.

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One resident of Loafers Lodge, Tala Sili, provided a harrowing account of his escape to the news outlet RNZ. "I was on the top floor and I couldn't go through the hallway because there was just too much smoke, so I jumped out the window," Sili said. After landing on a lower roof, he was rescued by paramedics and treated for a sprained ankle, the AP reported.

Loafers Lodge, a hostel offering economical accommodation with communal facilities, was home to a diverse population, including many vulnerable individuals placed there by government agencies. The four-story building had 92 rooms and was located near Wellington Regional Hospital.

The fire erupted around 12:30 a.m., and emergency services arrived to find a building without fire sprinklers. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed that retrofitting older buildings with sprinklers is not a current requirement under the country's building code.

As the authorities work to confirm the final death toll, Prime Minister Hipkins expressed the nation's grief, stating, "It is an absolute tragedy. It is a horrific situation." He assured that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted to uncover the circumstances leading to the tragedy.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered assistance, expressing his condolences to New Zealand, saying, "This is a dreadful human tragedy."

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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.