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 authorities to evacuate 1,690 people, while the resort’s operator said the property will remain closed until further notice.
The Dominican Republic Directorate of Out-of-Hospital Emergency Services identified the person who died as Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian national. The agency said at least nine other people were treated for injuries, and three were taken to off-site medical facilities.
Bayahibe is on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern coast, an area that draws international vacationers. The Dominican Republic Emergency Operations Center said the fire was contained and that guests were moved to alternative accommodations.
The COE said tourism activity in Bayahibe and the surrounding area remained unaffected. That makes the broader travel impact limited for now, even as the resort itself stays out of service.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said hotel teams evacuated guests and staff and that the hotel would stay closed until further notice. The company said the property operates independently.
Officials said the fire spread quickly because of wind and the flammable nature of some palm-roof structures at the resort. Nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace was not damaged and was operating normally, according to the COE.
