A large fire almost completely destroyed the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort in the Dominican Republic on Friday, forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,700 tourists, according to authorities.
Casualties and Evacuations
Local media reported that an Italian tourist died in the fire, and several other tourists required medical assistance. The country's Emergency Operations Center stated that about 1,690 tourists were evacuated from the resort to other hotels and nearby housing facilities due to the massive blaze.
Resort Location and Cause
The resort is located in Bayahibe, a popular destination for U.S. and international tourists on the Dominican Republic's southeastern coast. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Emergency Operations Center noted that the fire appeared to have spread rapidly due to wind and because part of the resort's roof was made of thatch.
Nearby Resorts Unaffected
Viva Wyndham's other nearby resort, the Dominicus Palace, was not damaged by the fire and continued operating as normal, the center confirmed.
