SkyCity CEO says hopes to have convention centre fire contained by evening

Reuters
Updated

WELLINGTON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - New Zealand's SkyCity Entertainment on Wednesday said it hoped a massive fire at its under-construction convention centre would be contained by evening and that it expected to re-open the rest of its precinct the following day.

"In the near term we expect to re-open rest of the precinct tomorrow ... we're hopeful fire will be contained by tonight," said Graeme Stephens, chief executive of SkyCity at a news conference, saying it was the first time in the company's history it had evacuated its entire complex, including casinos, hotels and restaurants. (Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Sandra Maler)