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A fire at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach hotel in Bayahíbe, Dominican Republic, resulted in the death of Francesca Valentino, a holidaymaker from Italy. Approximately 1,700 guests were evacuated, and the fire has since been brought under control, with three individuals requiring medical attention.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, with preliminary findings suggesting the hotel’s palm roof and windy conditions may have contributed to the rapid spread. The hotel, which has undergone recent renovations, is closed until further notice and has cancelled all bookings until at least Sunday.
The Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) confirmed that tourist activities in Bayahibe remain safe and normal, as investigations into the fire’s cause continue. Wyndham Hotels and Resorts announced that the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel will remain closed until further notice, cancelling all bookings up to and including Sunday.
What remains unclear — The investigation into the precise cause of the fire is ongoing and results are pending.
Fire at Dominican Republic hotel claims life of Francesca Valentino, guest evacuated with 1,700 others
At least one holidaymaker has died in a fire which engulfed a popular hotel in the Dominican Republic.
Some 1,700 guests were evacuated from the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach hotel in the southeastern resort of Bayahíbe.
Francesca Valentino, an Italian mother-of-two, was killed in the blaze, two months before what would have been her 46th birthday.
The dance teacher had starred in several TV programmes including one entitled Mollo Tutto e Cambio Vita (I’m quitting everything and changing my life) which aired on Sky Uno, on which she announced she was relocating to Santo Domingo.
Victim Francesca Valentino had appeared in a Sky Uno programme to announce she was moving to the Dominican Republic (Picture: Facebook)
Nearly 1,700 guests were evacuated from the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach hotel after it became engulfed in flames on Friday (Picture: Reuters)
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La Repubblica reported she had since returned to her home town of Caserta in the region of Campania, southern Italy and was in Bayahíbe on holiday.
She had been married for ten years and had two children, aged four and 10.
Three people were taken to medical centres, while another six were treated on site.
Helicopters brought in by the country’s air force also helped tackle the fire.
The inferno has been brought under control.
The cause of the blaze is unknown, but preliminary findings from emergency officials pointed to the flammable nature of the hotel’s palm roof and windy conditions as catalysts for the rapid spread of the fire.
Francesca Valentino with family (Picture: Facebook)
Guests have since been relocated to nearby hotels, including sister hotel Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, which did not suffer any damage.
The Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) said: ”Tourist activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area remain unaffected and continue to take place safely and as normal.’
Director Juan Manuel Mendez added: ‘The causes that caused the fire remain under investigation, and it will be the relevant technical commission in charge of establishing them once the emergency and evaluation work on site are completed.’
The most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic received some 5.6 million visitors in the first five months of this year alone.
Wyndham Beach, which charges £350-a-night has recently undergone renovation and boasts a large pool near the sand.
Early evidence suggests the hotel’s palm straw roof may have contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze (Picture: Reuters)
In a letter to partners, the hotel said it had cancelled all bookings up to and including Sunday.
‘We will keep you informed as soon as we have more information or relevant updates regarding the situation and the hotel’s operations’, the note added.
‘Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.’
A spokesperson for Wyndham Hotels and Resorts said the property had been closed until further notice.
They said in a statement: ‘Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel experienced a fire yesterday. The Emergency Operations Center (COE) in conjunction with various regional fire departments contained the fire. Hotel teams safely evacuated guests and staff.
‘However, we are saddened that one guest perished, and we send our thoughts to the family while we await autopsy results to determine the cause.
‘At this time the hotel, which is independently owned and operated, is closed and will remain so until further notice.’
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