Fire at Dominican Republic beach resort kills one, prompts evacuation of nearly 1,700 guests
A blaze at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in Bayahibe killed a 46-year-old Italian woman and forced the evacuation of about 1,700 tourists, authorities said.
A fire broke out at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in the Bayahibe resort of the Dominican Republic, killing 46-year-old Italian tourist Francesca Valentino. Local emergency services reported that three other people were taken to hospitals and six received on-site treatment.
Authorities said the blaze spread quickly because parts of the roof were made of palm that ignited easily, and wind conditions helped the fire grow. The Emergency Operations Center noted that the fire has been contained, but the cause remains under investigation.
Guests were relocated to nearby hotels, and the adjacent Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, also part of the Wyndham chain, was not damaged. The operations center added that tourist activities in Bayahibe and surrounding areas continue as normal.
The Dominican Republic, a leading Caribbean tourism market, recorded roughly 5.6 million visitors in the first five months of the year.