Dominican Republic Resort Fire Kills 1, Evacuates Nearly 1,700 Tourists
by Briana Bonfiglio
Facebook photo.
A massive fire at Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in the Dominican Republic has left one woman dead and forced nearly 1,700 tourists to evacuate.
The blaze began at about 11 a.m. on Friday, June 19, at the four-star resort in the town of Bayahibe in the La Altagracia province, located on the island’s southeastern coast. A 46-year-old Italian tourist was killed and several others were injured, according to Reuters.
Videos of the fire show bright flames engulfing the beachside resort, with black smoke billowing from the destruction.
Juan Manuel Mendez, head of the Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center, said in a press conference that three injured were taken to hospitals and six were treated on the scene. About 1,690 guests were evacuated and taken to nearby hotels and housing facilities. The neighboring Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace is unscathed and operating as normal.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it likely spread quickly because of windy conditions and roofing made with highly combustible materials, according to CBS News.
