New Zealand's Women's World Cup squad faced a moment of alarm when a fire broke out in their Auckland hotel on Saturday. However, the team has confirmed that all players and staff are safe, and the situation has been brought under control.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, but authorities from the Fire and Emergency department reported "multiple blazes" at the hotel, which have since been extinguished. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, although some individuals at the hotel received treatment for smoke inhalation.
According to a hotel staff member, the upper floors were affected by smoke, but the quick response from emergency services helped contain the situation swiftly. The fire service has stated that they do not suspect any foul play or malicious intent behind the incident.
In a statement, New Zealand Football assured the public that the Football Ferns team and staff have been temporarily evacuated from the Pullman Hotel, which serves as their team base for the FIFA Women's World Cup. The statement also confirmed the safety and well-being of all team members and staff.
New Zealand is co-hosting the prestigious Women's World Cup with Australia, and the team kicked off the tournament on a positive note with a 1-0 victory against Norway in the opening match on Thursday.
(With inputs from AFP)
