Loafers Lodge: Police suspect arson in deadly New Zealand hostel fire

New Zealand constabulary person launched a homicide enquiry into a hostel occurrence successful Wellington which has killed astatine slightest six people.

Officials confirmed they were treating the blaze arsenic an enactment of arson, and said up to 20 radical were inactive missing.

Investigators were delayed until Wednesday from afloat scouting the gathering owed to the fire's damage.

Police had said they could not beryllium circumstantial connected the fig of deaths until they could summation afloat access.

On Wednesday, a reconnaissance hunt squad was sent in. Firefighters had recovered six bodies connected Tuesday.

Police person not disclosed the identities of the dormant oregon those missing - immoderate of whom mightiness beryllium unaccounted for owed to different reasons, they said.

The blaze broke retired connected Monday astatine the four-storey Loafers Lodge hostel successful the superior conscionable aft midnight section clip (12:30 GMT Monday).

Residents were forced to crawl done fume to safety, portion others were rescued from the extortion by firefighters.

On Wednesday, Wellington Police confirmed they were treating the occurrence arsenic a transgression matter.

"I tin corroborate that we are treating the occurrence arsenic arson," said Acting Wellington District Commander Dion Bennett said.

"This country introspection volition beryllium an extended and methodical process, and we expect it to instrumentality immoderate clip - apt respective days."

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has called the occurrence "an implicit tragedy" portion occurrence authorities had described the blaze arsenic the superior city's "worst nightmare".

Loafers Lodge Hostel offered 92 rooms successful full and catered to some abbreviated and semipermanent guests.

It was designated by New Zealand's Ministry of Social Development successful 2011 arsenic an exigency accommodation provider. Official figures amusement that much than 3,300 households presently unrecorded successful exigency lodging arsenic of February.

Its customers ranged from displacement workers similar nurses and infirmary unit to unemployed and stateless people, section media reported.