A New Zealand hostel hit by a horrific fire that killed at least 10 people housed sleepers, pensioners and recently released prisoners.
Fire and emergency services were called to the Loafers Lodge Hostel on Adelaide Road in Wellington just before 12.30am to fight a blaze on the top floor.
Up to 52 people were evacuated from the building afterwards, but another 20 are believed to be missing.
Loafers Lodge advertises itself as an affordable place for people to stay in Wellington, but has been criticized for bed bugs and the poor quality of the rooms.
Local residents have also reported that the hostel is mainly used as temporary accommodation for people leaving prison, the homeless and others considered vulnerable.
The hospital staff are also said to have stayed in the Lodge at the time of the fire.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Tuesday: ‘It’s short-term hostel-type accommodation, so there will be people who may be in quite a vulnerable situation.’
Karen Hocking, director of housing for the Ministry of Social Development, revealed that some of the people living in the building were those receiving government funding.
At least one person was injured when they tried to jump from a third floor window, while five people were rescued from the roof with a cherry picker (crews on scene)
This includes people on social assistance benefits, low incomes and pensioners.
There were no vacancies at the hostel, which is also used for temporary accommodation, except for a number of rooms that are being treated for bed bugs, Radio NZ reported.
Attempts were made by the Capital and Coast District Health Board to determine how many hospital staff were in Loafers Lodge at the time of the fire.
“We are aware that some of our employees live in the building, but we cannot confirm the numbers at this time,” a spokesman said this morning.
“We are working to determine if they were in the building at the time of the incident and to confirm their safety.”
A former resident of Loafers Lodge said he was “shocked” to see the floor he previously stayed on had gone up in flames – revealing how he had previously raised the alarm over safety concerns.
“I’m really angry that people died,” he said Stuff.co.nz. “It’s not good enough.”
He said the fire alarms went off regularly in the building and that the manager had told him not to worry as it was ‘probably burnt toast’.
The unnamed man said he feared some residents might have heard the alarm and simply stayed in their room.
A nearby shop owner added that they were saddened but not surprised by the fire: “The building was quite run down and had a pretty bad reputation in the past. It’s like a maze in there.
A significant number of residents were under the care of Wellington City Mission, which provides temporary housing for those without homes.
Meanwhile, Community Corrections staff confirmed that people with community exemptions were staying at the lodge.
City Missioner Murray Edridge said many vulnerable people in their care had registered the lodge as their address.
‘A significant portion of the lodge’s residents are under our care. This is an utter disaster. These are people who are inherently vulnerable anyway. It’s a tragedy for our community.
“Our plan is to try and get in touch with people to determine if they’re okay and if so, what they need.
“We are working with the Council. We have offered social work to support people who are displaced, whether they are our clientele or not.
“We have provided food and support they may need in the hours and days to come.”
Deportee advocate Filipa Payne said the hostel was used by Prison Aid and Rehabilitation to house returned deportees.
Damage can be seen to the Loafers Lodge hostel building following a fatal fire in Wellington
Up to 10 people have died after a fire broke out at a hostel building in central Wellington last night amid fears there could be further fatalities (pictured is the Lodgers Loafers hostel)
“There was quite a family unit. This is a horrible tragedy that will affect people who have been placed there by a traumatic and barbaric system.”
Others have criticized the lodge online and left scathing reviews on Google.
A source said: ‘It was a pretty horrible hostel and many refused to stay there.
“It was full of drunks and junkies.”
A Google review read, “Good if you’re in trouble, but it’s pretty gross and people will steal your stuff.”
Another said, ‘A friend was staying there, management kicked him out for saying something about bed bugs, so it’s a bed bug den. Don’t stay there, the manager doesn’t care.’
While a third said, ‘This place is run by lunatics. Don’t stay here.’
Some of the reviews were more complimentary, with one guy saying, “If you’re a lone wolf who doesn’t cause trouble and don’t want trouble, he prefers a safe, peaceful and quiet place where you can be yourself and don’t have to put your worry about being in the spotlight or being in a crowd, then this safe haven is the place for you.”
Ms Hocking added that Loafers Lodge is not currently being used as an emergency accommodation provider.
The hostel was on a list of accommodation providers and had been used in the past, but there were currently no clients for emergency accommodation.
It has also been confirmed that there were no 501 deportees there either.
“We sympathize with everyone affected by the fire at Loafers Lodge in Wellington this morning,” Hocking said.
At least six people have died in a horror hostel fire, with fears dozens could be missing
Our sincere condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives.
“Some of the people who lived there have received financial assistance from MSD,” she said.
The ministry has yet to provide full figures on its customers in the building.
MSD worked closely with Wellington City Council, which led the welfare campaign, she said.
“Our staff, along with other agencies, are on site at the welfare center to ensure that the needs of those affected are met.
“We will work with all agencies to support our customers’ needs with clothing and footwear and work with those agencies to resettle those displaced by the fire.”