A woman has died and about 1,700 tourists were evacuated after a massive fire broke out at a hotel in the Dominican beach resort of Bayahibe, local authorities said Friday.
Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian woman, died in the fire at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach hotel, DAEH emergency services said in a statement.
DAEH said three people were taken to medical facilities and six others were treated on-site. Those affected included guests, visitors and emergency responders.
Videos shared by local media showed dark clouds of smoke billowing over the Caribbean beach as flames engulfed the resort’s straw roof.
“Initial observations indicate that the fire spread rapidly due to the flammable nature of parts of the palm-clad roofing structures as well as windy conditions,” the country’s Center of Emergency Operations (COE) said.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which franchises about 8,400 hotels around the world, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The operations center said the fire has been brought under control but its cause is still being investigated. The guests were taken to nearby hotels. Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, part of the same chain, suffered no damage.
“Tourist activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area are unaffected and are continuing safely and normally,” the COE said.
Famous for its clear waters and white sand beaches, the Dominican Republic is the Caribbean’s top tourist destination, with nearly 5.6 million tourists in the first five months of this year.
<a href=