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, while officials said the blaze was contained and tourism activity in the area continued as normal.
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 emergency service 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 guests were moved to alternative accommodations and that 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 hotel will remain closed until further notice.
Officials said preliminary observations suggested the fire spread quickly because of wind and the combustible nature of palm roof structures. Authorities also said the nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace was not damaged and was operating normally.
