Reuters —
A massive fire broke out at a hotel in the Dominican beach resort of Bayahibe, killing one woman and forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,700 tourists, local authorities said Friday.
DAEH emergency services said in a statement that Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian woman, died in the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel fire.
DAEH said three people were taken to a medical facility and the remaining six were treated at the scene. Those affected included guests, visitors, and emergency responders.
Videos shared by local media showed black smoke billowing into the sky above the Caribbean coastline as flames engulfed the resort’s straw roof.
“Preliminary observations indicate that the fire spread rapidly due to the flammability of some parts of the roof structure made of palm and the wind conditions,” the country’s Center for Emergency Operations (COE) said.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which franchises about 8,400 hotels around the world, did not respond to requests for comment.
The fire has been extinguished, but the cause is still under investigation, the operations center said. Guests were moved to nearby hotels. The Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, also part of the chain, was not damaged.
“Tourism activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area are unaffected and continue to operate safely and normally,” the COE added.
Famous for its crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches, the Dominican Republic is the Caribbean’s premier tourist destination, with approximately 5.6 million tourists visiting in the first five months of this year.
