At least six people have been killed in a fire at a hostel in New Zealand.

Flames ripped through the four-storey hostel in Wellington at around 12.30am local time.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he understands that six people have been confirmed dead, and that there are likely to be more.

fire at hostel in New Zealand

Police said they do not yet have an exact count of the number dead, although they believe it is fewer than 10 people.

Emergency services were called to the Loafers Lodge hostel, and Wellington Fire and Emergency District Manager Nick Pyatt said 52 people have been accounted for, but that a number still remained missing.

He said: ‘I can sadly report that this will be a multi-fatality incident. Our thoughts at this time are with the families of those who have perished and with our crews who valiantly rescued those (they could) and attempted to rescue those that they couldn’t.

‘This is our worst nightmare, it doesn’t get worse than this’ he said.

Police said the cause of the fire remained unexplained, and they would be investigating alongside fire and emergency officials.

Loafers Lodge advertises itself as an affordable place for people to stay while they are in the capital, whether on business or needing to visit the nearby Wellington Hospital.

It has 92 rooms and promotes them as being available long term.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Follow WTXNews.co.uk on Twitter

The fire ripped through the four-storey hostel tonight.