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 people, while authorities said the blaze was contained and tourism in the area continued normally.
The Dominican Republic Directorate of Out-of-Hospital Emergency Services identified the dead guest as Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian national. The agency said at least nine other people were treated for injuries, and three were taken to off-site medical facilities.
The fire broke out Friday at the resort on the country’s southeastern coast. The Dominican Republic Emergency Operations Center said guests were moved to alternative accommodations after the evacuation.
The emergency center 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 also said the hotel operates independently.
Authorities said the fire was contained. Preliminary observations cited by officials said wind and the flammable nature of parts of the roof structure helped the blaze spread quickly.
A nearby property, Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, was not damaged and was operating normally.
