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 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said the property will remain closed until further notice.
The Dominican Republic Directorate of Out-of-Hospital Emergency Services said the person who died was Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian tourist. The agency 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 the blaze had been contained and that guests were moved to alternative accommodations. The agency also said tourism activity in Bayahibe and the surrounding area remained unaffected.
Local authorities said 1,690 tourists were evacuated from the resort. The nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace was not damaged and was operating normally, according to authorities cited in Reuters and AP-based coverage.
Preliminary observations cited by authorities said wind and the combustible nature of palm roof structures helped the fire spread quickly. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said its hotel teams evacuated guests and staff.
