Tragic Fire in Dominican Republic Resort Leaves One Dead, Several Injured

At least one Italian tourist lost their life, and several others were injured following a significant fire in the Dominican Republic’s Bayahibe resort town. The incident occurred on Friday at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel.

The deceased, Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian national, succumbed to injuries sustained in the fire. The Dominican Republic’s Directorate of Out-of-Hospital Emergency Services (DAEH) confirmed her death.

In addition, at least nine individuals were injured; three required treatment at off-site medical facilities, as reported by DAEH.

Authorities safely evacuated 1,690 tourists from the resort town, according to a report by The Associated Press, based on local information. Aerial footage of the fire captured dense gray smoke billowing from multiple beachside buildings, casting shadows over the turquoise waters.

“Preliminary observations indicate that the fire spread rapidly due to the flammable nature of parts of the roof structures made from palm, as well as wind conditions,” according to Reuters.

The blaze prompted relocation of guests to other accommodations, such as the nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, which did not suffer any damage, as noted by Reuters.

The Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) assured that tourist activities in Bayahibe and its surroundings remain unaffected and continue safely as normal.

Additional video footage shows a drone attempting to control the fire by spraying water on the destroyed structures.

Fox News Digital reached out to DAEH, COE, and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts for further information. The Associated Press contributed to the report.