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, injured at least nine others and forced 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, according to reports citing the agency. Three of the injured were taken to off-site medical facilities.
The Dominican Republic Emergency Operations Center said the blaze had been contained and that guests were moved to alternative accommodations. It said tourism activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area were not disrupted.
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 resort operates independently.
Authorities said the fire spread quickly because of wind and the flammable nature of parts of the resort’s palm-roof structures. Nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace was not damaged and was operating normally, according to authorities.
The fire broke out Friday at the beachfront resort on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern coast, a destination used by international travelers. For visitors with existing reservations, the key practical impact is that the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel is closed while neighboring properties in the area continued operating.
