At least six people are dead and 30 more are missing in a huge fire at a busy hostel in New Zealand - with fears it was started deliberately.
The blaze broke out at the four-storey Loafers Lodge in central Wellington in what a fire chief is calling his “worst nightmare”.
The country's Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he understands there could be more fatalities, with police saying they believe it is fewer than 10.
At least five people have been rushed to hospital, one in a serious condition and four in a stable condition.
Fifteen others were treated at the scene.
Up to 20 fire engines responded by 4am local time on Tuesday on Adelaide Road, with flames spreading quickly from the top floor.
Wellington Fire and Emergency District Manager Nick Pyatt said 52 people have been accounted for from the building.
The hostel has capacity for 92 people, but it’s not clear how many people were inside at the time.
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The NZ Herald reports speculation the fire may have been started deliberately.
The blaze was quickly elevated to a fifth alarm, with 20 fire trucks on the scene by 4am.
Mr Pyatt told a press conference: "This is our once-in-a-decade fire for Wellington.
"I can sadly report that this will be a multi-fatality incident.
"Our thoughts at this time are with the families of those who have perished and with our crews who valiantly rescued those and attempted to rescue those that they couldn’t.
"This is our worst nightmare. It doesn’t get worse than this."
In a statement this morning, police confirmed “a number of fatalities” and believed the number was fewer than 10.
“Our initial assessment is that the number of deceased is fewer than 10, however, we are not in a position to be any more specific until we can access the building," the force said.
“It is currently unsafe and until we can access the building - and reconcile numbers of people who are safe - we are not in a position to determine how many people are deceased or unaccounted for.”
Footage captured by locals shows large plumes of smoke and flames coming from the hostel's roof.
One resident told local media many who lived in the hostel's top floors were elderly.
Deportee advocate Filipa Payne said the hostel was used by the government and Prison Aid and Rehabilitation to accommodate returned 501 deportees.
"There was quite a family unit. This is a horrible tragedy that will affect people that have been placed there through a traumatic and barbaric system," she told Stuff.
"The people left behind who are already vulnerable and disconnected."
