Bayahibe resort fire kills 1, 1,700 tourists evacuated
The victim was identified as Italian tourist Francesca Valentino; investigators say palm-thatch roofing and wind helped the fire spread fast.
A major fire hit the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in the Bayahibe beach resort in the Dominican Republic on Friday (19/6), killing one person and forcing nearly 1,700 tourists to evacuate. The Dominican Emergency Operations Center said the victim was Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian woman. Three people were taken to medical facilities and six others were treated at the scene, including guests, visitors and emergency responders. Authorities said the fire spread quickly because parts of the roof were made of flammable palm leaves and because of windy conditions. The blaze has now been brought under control, while the cause remains under investigation. Guests were moved to nearby hotels, and authorities said tourism activity in Bayahibe and surrounding areas continued as usual.