at least six dead in Wellington hotel fire

By Le Figaro with AFP

Published on 05/15/2023 at 23:48update on 05/16/2023 at 00:40

At least six people died in a fire in a hotel in central Wellington on Tuesday morning, May 16, announced New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. “It’s an absolute tragedy”, he said, believing that the toll is likely to increase. Firefighters reported 52 people rescued, some of whom had taken refuge on the roof. But dozens more are missing.

Six people were taken to hospital and 15 others were being treated at the scene, according to Wellington Emergency Services. “A fire like this is only seen once every ten years in Wellington. It’s the worst nightmare for us.”, said emergency services manager Nick Pyatt. According to him, about 90 people could be in the building when it caught fire.

Some 80 firefighters and 20 fire trucks fought the fire in the building from which large sheets of smoke escaped. A police spokesman estimated that the final death toll should not “not exceed 10”emphasizing, however, that he would only be known after he was able to access the building.