Deadly Fire at Dominican Resort: One Killed, 1,700 Evacuated in Bayahibe Blaze
A 46-year-old Italian woman was killed and nearly 1,700 tourists were evacuated after a large fire swept through a beachfront hotel in the popular Dominican resort town of Bayahibe on Friday, according to local authorities.
The victim was identified as Francesca Valentino. The DAEH emergency service confirmed that three people were transported to medical facilities and six others, including guests, visitors and emergency responders, were treated on site for minor injuries.
Video footage shared by local media showed thick black smoke billowing above the Caribbean coastline as flames consumed the hotel’s palm-thatched roofs. The Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) said in a statement that “preliminary observations indicate the fire spread rapidly due to the flammable nature of parts of the roof structures made of palm, as well as wind conditions.”
The Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel, part of the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts chain — which franchises more than 8,400 properties globally — was still smoldering hours later. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Guests were relocated to nearby hotels, including the adjacent Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, which was not damaged. The COE said tourist activities in Bayahibe and surrounding areas remain unaffected and are continuing safely and as normal.
The incident comes as the Dominican Republic continues to cement its status as the Caribbean’s top tourist destination, having welcomed roughly 5.6 million visitors in the first five months of this year. While the fire caused no structural damage beyond the affected building, industry analysts point to the vulnerability of tropical resort infrastructure built with traditional thatched materials, which can ignite quickly under dry conditions and strong winds.
Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire, which was brought under control by Friday evening. An investigation is ongoing.
This article includes reporting from CNN and local emergency services. For more CNN news and newsletters, create an account at CNN.com.