A huge fire was seen completely destroying the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham.
The famous four-star luxury resort in Bayahibe on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic caught on fire, resulting in one Italian tourist dying and many others suffering multiple injuries. The incident led to panic and chaos and triggered the immediate evacuation of more than 1700 tourists and staff members.
The victim was soon identified as Francesca Valentino, who was a 46-year-old female tourist from Italy. Emergency response teams were seen confirming how three individuals were hospitalized for their injuries, while six more, including guests and first responders, were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and minor trauma.
The Dominican Republic's Emergency Operations Center noted how the inferno spread with extreme speed due to a combination of strong coastal winds and the resort's highly flammable, palm-thatched roofing.
Social media footage soon captured the mortifying scenes of thick black smoke that billowed over the Caribbean coastline, with flames swallowing huge sections of the complex. Guests who fled were soon relocated to nearby hotels. While the main resort suffered serious damage, the accompanying Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace remained untouched. An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of this blaze.