Police to extract bodies from New Zealand hostel after fatal fire

New Zealand police expect to start removing bodies from the hostel in Wellington where at least six people died in a fire earlier this week, authorities said on Thursday.

The exterior of a hostel, after a fire ripped through the building, resulting in a number of deaths, in Wellington, New Zealand May, 16, 2023.AAP Image/Ben McKay via REUTERS

By Lucy Craymer

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand police expect to start removing bodies from the hostel in Wellington where at least six people died in a fire earlier this week, authorities said on Thursday.

A blaze broke out on the top floor of the Loafers Lodge in the suburb of Newtown in the early hours of Tuesday, causing major structural damage that has hampered efforts to get inside.

Police have said they suspect the fire was arson and have opened a homicide inquiry.

Inspector Dion Bennett, acting Wellington district commander, said a reconnaissance team conducted an initial preparatory examination of the building on Wednesday and expected to be able to bring out two bodies on Thursday and a further two on Friday.

FILE PHOTO: Fire and emergency crews work at the scene of a fire at the Loafers Lodge, in Wellington, New Zealand May 16, 2023. REUTERS/Lucy Craymer/File Photo

"The scene examination is expected to take several days," Bennett said, adding that police did not know how many people died in the fire.

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Jamie Freed)