At least six people have died in a fire that broke out early Tuesday morning in a four-story hotel in downtown Wellington, New Zealand's capital. Fire teams reported the rescue of 52 people, some via the roof, noting that dozens more are still unaccounted for. Smoke was seen billowing from the lodge at night while 80 firefighters, supported by 20 trucks, worked to extinguish the flames.
Regional fire and emergency chief Nick Pyatt described it as a fire that occurs in Wellington once a decade. "It’s the worst nightmare for us," he stated.
It is believed that about 90 people were in the building when the fire started, and multiple fatalities have been confirmed. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins called it a tragedy "in every sense of the word," adding that it is likely there will be more than six fatalities. When asked about the death toll, he said, "Six have been confirmed dead so far," indicating that the number may rise.
