Fatal fire in Wellington CBD
A fire broke out at Wellington's Loafers Lodge hostel in Newtown overnight which housed 94 people. Police say fewer than 10 people are believed dead but still to be confirmed.
What you need to know:
- Adelaide Road is expected to be closed during the morning and congestion around this area is likely.
- Residents in the area should stay inside with their windows and doors closed: The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ is warning Wellingtonians to look after their respiratory health. For those with severe respiratory conditions, like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchitis, the smoke can cause flare ups. It is understood that the building contains asbestos, meaning that toxic particles from this material could also become airborne and pose additional risk.
Read further updates throughout the day on the Stuff website.
Driven On The Akatarawa Rd Lately?
If so, its good to know you are still alive and reading this.
We have a function to go to over Christmas up that way and having heard a few hairy stories about the road, I went up there on Thursday to check it out. The road's ok, narrow and winding, but not much worse than a Wellington hill suburb. What was pretty scary was the behavior of other drivers. Three vehicles heading the other way at speed would have crashed into me if I hadn't been pulled off the road. I had pulled in to check the address when a truck came flying past, taking up all of the narrow road at speed. There is no way the driver would have been able to stop had they come around the corner immediately in front of me. The other two drivers came hurtling past as I had turned in to turn around and come back down the hill. They were also driving at speed and taking up most of the road. Coming back down I passed another car coming up and estimate that the safe speed to pass another car was about 30-35 kms.p.h. So, now we're thinking, do we go to the function or not.? Feels a bit like we're taking our life in our hands going up there. Drivers appear to be overconfident, and they are courting serious injury.
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