Key takeaways:
- One 46-year-old Italian tourist died in the fire at Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic.
- At least nine people were injured; three were taken to medical facilities and six were treated on site.
- About 1,690 guests were evacuated to other hotels and nearby housing, and officials said the nearby Dominicus Palace resort was not damaged.
A massive fire swept through a luxury beach resort in the Dominican Republic on Friday, killing an Italian tourist, injuring at least nine people and forcing nearly 1,700 guests to evacuate, officials said.
The blaze broke out at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach resort in Bayahibe, a popular beach town in La Altagracia province on the country’s southeastern Caribbean coast. CBS News, citing officials, reported that the fire began around 11 a.m.; the BBC described it as an early-morning blaze.
Juan Manuel Mendez, head of the Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center, said at a Friday evening news conference that one person died at the scene and at least nine others were injured. The DAEH emergency services said in a statement to local media that the person who died was a 46-year-old Italian tourist. Three people were taken to medical facilities, while six others were treated at the resort, officials said.
Video from the scene showed thatch-roof structures burning across the beachside property as thick black smoke rose into the air. Cellphone footage showed crowds in the ocean only feet from the flames, while drone footage showed multiple buildings across the resort on fire. Firefighters from La Romana responded after local crews struggled to contain the blaze.
The Emergency Operations Center said approximately 1,690 guests staying at the resort were evacuated to other hotels and nearby housing facilities. The agency said the fire had been brought under control and that guests had been moved safely. It also said Viva Wyndham’s nearby Dominicus Palace resort was not damaged and was operating normally.
Officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. A preliminary review found that the flames likely spread quickly because part of the resort’s roof was made of cane or thatch, a more combustible material, and because of windy conditions.
“At this time, we are actively gathering the facts regarding the incident and coordinating with the appropriate authorities and on-site teams,” a spokesperson for Viva Resorts by Wyndham told CBS News. “As this process is ongoing, we will not be providing comment at this time.”
The BBC reported that Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which franchises about 8,400 hotels worldwide, had been contacted for comment.
The Emergency Operations Center said tourism activity in Bayahibe and the surrounding area was unaffected and could continue as normal. Bayahibe is known for clear blue water and sandy beaches and draws American and other international visitors.
Italian news agency Ansa reported that Italy’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic met the dead woman’s husband at the hospital where she had been taken. The BBC reported that the Italian embassy was assisting about 285 Italian tourists who had been staying at the resort or nearby, including by issuing emergency passports to those whose travel documents were destroyed and arranging flights home.
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