SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, June 20 (Our Florida Times) — A fire at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in Bayahibe, a resort area on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern coast, killed one tourist, injured at least nine others and led authorities to evacuate 1,690 people, officials said Friday.
The Dominican Republic Directorate of Out-of-Hospital Emergency Services identified the person who died as Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian tourist. The agency said at least nine other people were treated for injuries, and three were transferred to off-site medical facilities.
The Dominican Republic Emergency Operations Center said the blaze was contained and that guests were moved to alternative accommodations. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said its hotel teams evacuated guests and staff and that the property would remain closed until further notice.
The company said the hotel operates independently. Authorities also said nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace was not damaged and was operating normally.
Officials said preliminary observations suggested the fire spread quickly because of wind and the resort’s palm-roof structures. The exact cause had not been released.
For travelers, the emergency center said tourism activity in Bayahibe and the surrounding area remained unaffected despite the fire at the resort.
