WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 16: Smoke escapes as a drone surveys the scene after a fire at Loafers Lodge on May 16, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand.
At least 10 people are dead and many more are unaccounted for after a blaze broke out at a four-sto WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A fire ripped through a hostel in New Zealand’s capital overnight, killing at least six people and forcing others to flee the four-story building in their pajamas in what a fire chief on Tuesday called his "worst nightmare."Fifty-two people in the Loafers Lodge Hostel in Wellington have been accounted for, but firefighters are still looking for others, said Wellington Fire and Emergency District Manager Nick Pyatt.
He said they were called to the hostel at about 12:30 a.m.Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told the AM morning news program that he understands that six people have been confirmed dead and there are likely to be more.
Police said they don’t yet have an exact count of the number of dead, although they believe it’s fewer than 10 people."Our thoughts at this time are with the families of those who have perished and with our crews who valiantly rescued those (they could) and attempted to rescue those that they couldn’t," Pyatt told reporters."This is our worst nightmare," Pyatt said.