Watch: Fire engulfs beach hotel in Dominican Republic; 1 killed, 1,700 evacuated

A massive fire tore through a beachfront resort in the Dominican Republic’s popular tourist destination of Bayahibe, killing one person and forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,700 guests and staff, Reuters reported citing authorities on Friday. The victim was identified as Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian tourist, who died in the blaze at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel, according to the DAEH emergency service. Three people were taken to medical facilities, while six others, including hotel guests, visitors and emergency responders, received treatment at the scene. Videos circulating on local media showed thick black smoke rising above the Caribbean coastline as flames engulfed the resort’s palm-thatched roof. Emergency crews battled the fire for hours before bringing it under control. According to the Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center (COE), the blaze spread rapidly because parts of the hotel’s roof were constructed with highly flammable palm materials. Strong winds further fueled the flames.“Preliminary observations indicate that the fire spread rapidly due to the flammable ⁠nature of parts of the roof structures made of palm, as well as wind conditions,” the country’s emergency operations center (COE) said. Authorities evacuated approximately 1,700 tourists from the resort and relocated guests to nearby hotels. The adjacent Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, which belongs to the same hotel chain, was not damaged. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Despite the incident, officials stressed that tourism activities in Bayahibe and surrounding areas continue to operate normally. “Tourist activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area remain unaffected and continue to take place safely and as normal,” the COE said. Known for its crystal-clear waters and white-sand beaches, the Dominican Republic remains the Caribbean’s most-visited tourist destination, welcoming around 5.6 million visitors during the first five months of this year.