17 May 2023

Police treating Loafers Lodge fatal fire as arson

From Checkpoint, 5:07 pm on 17 May 2023

Police are now treating the fatal fire at a Wellington hostel as arson, and say it was not the first fire there that night.

The government has also announced it will look into whether building regulations for high density accommodation are fit for purpose.

Police now start the grim task of recovering bodies from the building - and its owner says he's gutted about what's happened there.

Meanwhile residents, and their family and friends, are looking to the future with uncertainty. Soumya Bhamidipati reports from Wellington.

 

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