Police suspect arson in fatal Wellington hostel fire

STORY: The blaze broke out on the top floor of the Loafers Lodge in the suburb of Newtown in the early hours of Tuesday (May 16), killing at least six people and causing major structural damage that is hampering recovery efforts.

Following a health and safety assessment, police said investigators hoped to enter the 92-room building in the afternoon to find and identify the dead, and begin their investigation.

The hostel provided accommodation for construction workers, hospital staff and those serving sentences in the community for minor crimes, among other people.