Tourist Dies, 1,700 Others Evacuated After Dominican Republic Hotel Resort Goes Up In Flames

Fire tore through the Viva Dominicus Beach Hotel in Bayahibe before dawn on Friday, killing one tourist and sending nearly 1,700 guests fleeing into the night.

Italian holidaymaker Francesca Valentina, 46, lost her life after being overcome by the smoke. The 46-year-old was rushed to a health centre in La Romana province, where she later died, according to local outlets Diario Libre and Listín Diario, citing Dominican emergency services.

Nine other guests needed treatment for injuries sustained in the blaze, Reuters reported.

As smoke engulfed the resort, emergency crews launched a mass evacuation. Among the 1,690 guests shepherded to safety were 177 children and 21 babies, all taken to neighbouring hotels for checks and shelter.

COE director Juan Manuel Méndez confirmed that the Emergency Operations Centre said response teams remained on the ground, working alongside national fire and rescue agencies to fully extinguish the blaze and secure the site.

What started the fire remains unclear. Investigators are expected to comb through the wreckage in the coming days as the resort stays closed and the human toll comes into sharper focus.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​