Four people are fighting for their lives in intensive care and five others are in hospital after a suspected mass drug overdose at a property housing foreign nationals ‑ believed to be backpackers or students ‑ in the inner Perth suburb of Victoria Park.

Emergency services were called to the Colombo Street home just before midnight after reports nine people were unconscious or violently ill.

Seven men and two women were rushed to three separate hospitals around the city.

Three men were taken to Royal Perth Hospital; two of them are in intensive care.

Two men and a woman were taken to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, where two of them are also in intensive care.

Source: Radio NZ