At least six people were killed in a fire that broke out at dawn on Tuesday in a four-storey motel in the center of the New Zealand capital, Wellington.
And the fire brigades announced the rescue of 52 people, some of them from the roof, noting that dozens of others are still missing.
Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the hostel at night, while 80 firefighters, backed by 20 trucks, worked to put out the fire.
“It’s a once-in-a-decade Wellington fire. It’s our worst nightmare,” said District Fire and Emergency Chief Nick Pyatt.
It is believed that 90 people were in the building when the fire started, and “several” deaths have been confirmed.
“It is a tragedy in every sense of the word,” Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said, adding that there were likely to be more than six deaths.
When asked about the death toll, he said, “It has been confirmed that six have been killed so far,” suggesting that the death toll would rise.
Six people were taken to a hospital for treatment, one of them in serious condition, according to the Wellington Ambulance Service, and 15 other people received treatment at the scene.
A police spokesman expressed his belief that the final death toll “will not exceed ten”, but the exact number will not be known until after being able to enter the building.
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2023-05-15 22:32:35
