Italian Tourist Dies as Fire Evacuates Nearly 1,700 at Viva Dominicus Beach Resort in Bayahibe

A massive fire nearly destroyed the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort in Bayahibe on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern coast, and Dominican authorities said it forced the evacuation of nearly 1,700 tourists and caused the death of an Italian national.

“Tourist dead after massive fire breaks out at Dominican Republic resort: Officials A woman from Italy was killed in the blaze, officials said”

ABC News

CNBC reported that the blaze almost completely destroyed the luxury resort and that General Manuel Méndez, director of the country’s Emergency Operations Center, said authorities were investigating the cause of the Italian woman’s death.

ABC News

USA Today identified the victim as Francesca Valentino, 46, of Caserta, Italy, and said the resort was operating at close to 84% occupancy when the fire broke out.

The Emergency Operations Center said it appeared the fire spread rapidly due to wind and because part of the resort’s roof was made of thatch, and the BBC said an initial investigation found the flames spread quickly due to wind conditions and the flammable thatched roofs on some buildings.

Amanda Santana, a hotel executive, said, "Unfortunately, they lost their identity documents, including their passports," as Dominican authorities worked to help foreign tourists return home.

CNBC added that hotel management officials said they were working with the police to expedite the filing of reports online for guests who needed them, and that tourists were relocated to hotels in Punta Cana and Bayahibe.

BBC

The BBC said the Italian embassy was helping around 285 Italian tourists staying at the resort or nearby, issuing emergency passports to those whose travel documents were destroyed in the fire and arranging flights home.

USA Today reported that three people were taken to medical facilities and six others were treated at the scene, and it quoted the Emergency Operations Center saying tourist activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area were not affected and continued as normal.

Multiple outlets tied the rapid spread to the resort’s thatched roofs and wind conditions, with the Emergency Operations Center saying the fire spread rapidly due to the flammable nature of parts of the roof structures made of palm, as well as wind conditions.

“One person was killed and several others were hurt when a massive fire broke out at a luxury beach resort in the Dominican Republic on Friday, local officials said”

CBS News

USA Today said Wyndham Hotels and Resorts stated that hotel teams safely evacuated guests and staff, but that the hotel was closed and would remain so until further notice while autopsy results were awaited to determine the cause.

CBS News reported that Juan Manuel Mendez, head of the Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center, said one person died at the scene and at least nine others were injured, with three transported to area hospitals and six treated on scene.

NBC News said the fire was brought under control but causes were still being investigated, and it noted that Wyndham’s Viva Dominicus Palace, part of the same chain, did not sustain any damage while tourist activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area remained unaffected and continued as normal.