World News for Students of English

22-5-2023 15:00

At least six people have lost their lives following a fire at the Loafers Lodge hostel in Wellington, New Zealand.

The fire started in the early hours of the morning and more than 50 people were rescued from the building. However, 11 people were still unaccounted for and the police feared that the number of fatalities would rise. The cause of the fire is unknown; however, authorities suspect that it may have been a deliberate act. The building’s sprinklers didn’t work and it is unclear if the fire alarms were functioning properly. Fire and Emergency New Zealand are treating the fire as suspicious. The building contained asbestos, which poses a danger to people who inhale its particles.

The hostel was used as emergency accommodation and catered to both short and long-term guests. Some of its residents were shift workers, while others were homeless or had been deported from Australia.

Difficult words: unaccounted (lost or not present), sprinkler (a device that sprays water), asbestos (a heat-resistant mineral).

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