SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, June 20 (Our Florida Times) — A fire at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic, killed one tourist and forced the evacuation of 1,690 guests, according to Dominican emergency officials.
The Dominican Republic Directorate of Out-of-Hospital Emergency Services said the dead traveler was Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian tourist. The agency said at least nine other people were treated for injuries, and three were taken to off-site medical facilities.
The Dominican Republic Emergency Operations Center said the blaze was contained later Friday and that guests were moved to alternative accommodations. The agency also said tourism activity in Bayahibe and the surrounding area remained unaffected.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said hotel teams evacuated guests and staff and that the property would remain closed until further notice. The company said the hotel operates independently.
Authorities said the fire spread quickly because of wind and the flammable palm roof structures at the resort. The nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace was not damaged and was operating normally, officials said.
Bayahibe is a tourist destination on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern coast, and the fire sent large numbers of visitors out of the resort area as emergency crews responded.
