One dead and nine injured in fire at Dominican Republic beach resort

A blaze erupted around 11 a.m. on Friday at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach resort in Bayahibe, La Altagracia province, killing one person and injuring at least nine others, officials said. The victim was identified as an Italian woman. Juan Manuel Mendez, head of the Dominican Republic's Emergency Operations Center, told a news conference that three of the injured were taken to hospitals while six received treatment on site. Approximately 1,690 guests were evacuated to nearby hotels and housing facilities, and the adjacent Dominicus Palace resort remained operational.

Firefighters from La Romana province responded, but local crews faced difficulty containing the fire, which spread rapidly, officials said. A preliminary investigation indicated that a portion of the resort's roof was made of cane, a highly combustible material, and windy conditions helped the flames spread. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

"At this time, we are actively gathering the facts regarding the incident and coordinating with the appropriate authorities and on-site teams," a spokesperson for Viva Resorts by Wyndham said in a statement, adding that no further comment would be provided while the investigation continues.