Loafers Lodge: Man remanded over deadly New Zealand hostel fire

A 48-year-old man has been remanded in custody after being charged with arson in connection with a fatal fire at emergency housing in New Zealand.

Five bodies have now been found and four recovered after Tuesday's blaze at the Loafers Lodge hostel in the capital, Wellington.

It is thought that fewer than 10 people remain missing, with 99 people accounted for.

Police have said it may be days before the final death toll is known.

They had previously been reporting that at least six people had been killed.

"Until we have fully examined all parts of the building, we remain reluctant to confirm the specific number of deceased," Inspector Dion Bennett of Wellington police said on Friday.

Officers are still unclear exactly how many people were in the building at the time. Mr Bennett said there may have been guests staying over and that some residents who were there might not have wanted to make contact with the authorities.

A thorough search of the building has not yet been possible due to the extensive damage, and Mr Bennett said the roof had crumbled in some parts, while the third floor was also unstable.

The suspect, who has been granted interim name suppression, has been charged with two counts of arson. Police said he could face further "more serious" charges.

One of the charges is for allegedly setting fire to a couch on the third floor of Loafers Lodge a few hours before the main fire broke out.

Police said this fire was not reported to emergency services at the time.

The second charge relates to the main fire, which happened shortly after midnight local time (12:30 GMT Monday).

The suspect has also been charged with breaching a supervision order. He did not enter a formal plea but reportedly told the court someone else had "done it", according to the AFP news agency and local media.

Police said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the fire.

Tuesday's fire forced residents to the rooftop, where they were later rescued by firefighters. Others jumped from windows, while some crawled through smoke to safety.

One resident, Tala Sili, said he had jumped from his window to escape the fire, which had started on the third floor.

"I was on the top floor and I couldn't go through the hallway because there was just too much smoke, so I jumped out the window," he told national broadcaster RNZ.

The incident on the outskirts of Wellington's city centre has shocked New Zealand. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins called it "an absolute tragedy" and said it raised a wider discussion about the nation's housing crisis.

The 92-room hostel was known to house residents from vulnerable and marginalised communities - including those on welfare and disability pensions - as well as workers from the city's main hospital.

New Zealand is experiencing a housing crisis brought on by high rents, soaring house prices and a shortage of social housing.

Official figures show that as of February, more than 3,300 households live in emergency housing.