A devastating fire at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in the Dominican Republic resort town of Bayahibe has resulted in the death of one Italian tourist and injuries to at least nine others. Authorities evacuated 1,690 guests from the property on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as 46-year-old Italian national Francesca Valentino. The Directorate of Out-of-Hospital Emergency Services (DAEH) confirmed that three of the nine injured individuals required transfer to off-site medical facilities.
Flames engulfed numerous beachside buildings at the resort. Aerial footage showed thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky, casting shadows over the water. Preliminary observations suggest the fire spread quickly due to the combustible nature of palm roof structures and prevailing wind conditions, according to Reuters.
Tourists were relocated to other accommodations, including the nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, which is operated by the same company and sustained no damage. The Dominican Republic's Emergency Operations Center (COE) stated that tourist activities in Bayahibe and surrounding areas remain unaffected and are continuing normally.
Efforts to combat the blaze included drone water spraying on smoldering structures. DAEH, COE, and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts were contacted for additional comment.