A massive blaze at a resort in the Dominican Republic has killed an Italian reality television personality and left nearly 1,700 tourists stranded after the fire destroyed passports and other crucial travel documents.
The fire broke out Friday at Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham in Bayahibe, a resort that charges about $350 a night and is popular with American vacationers, many of whom had to be evacuated.
Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian national who appeared on a reality show about starting over abroad, died in the incident, the Dominican Republic’s emergency service DAEH confirmed in a statement.
DAEH said three people were transported to medical centers, while six others received treatment at the scene. The injured included hotel guests, visitors and emergency personnel.
Even tourists who escaped injury are now facing major complications, hotel executive Amanda Santana said. “Unfortunately, they lost their identity documents, including their passports,” she explained.
“We have been coordinating with the embassies and governments of those countries to facilitate the entry of those guests,” Santana added.
The number of Americans among the nearly 1,700 people affected remains unclear. The Daily Mail has contacted the US Embassy in the Dominican Republic seeking comment and further details.
Hotel representatives said they are cooperating with police to help travelers obtain emergency replacement passports and speed up online document applications.
A drone view shows a huge fire breaking out at the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham in Bayahibe, La Altagracia, Dominican Republic. The blaze killed one Italian woman
Francesca Valentino is pictured with her husband in a Facebook photo. She died in the blaze at the resort
Around 1,700 tourists have been left stranded in the Dominican Republic because their passports burned. Tourists on the beach are pictured in front of the blaze
Many of the impacted visitors have been relocated to hotels in Punta Cana and Bayahibe.
When the fire at Viva Dominicus Beach broke out, the resort was operating at 84 percent capacity.
Shocking footage showed huge plumes of black smoke billowing from raging fires emerging from what appears to be at least a dozen buildings on the beachside resort’s property.
‘Preliminary observations indicate that the fire spread rapidly due to the flammable nature of parts of the roof structures made of palm, as well as wind conditions,’ the Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) said.
The fire was brought under control but its causes were still being investigated, the operations center said.
The Italian woman’s cause of death is also being investigated, according to General Manuel Méndez, director of the COE.
The COE added that ‘Tourist activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area remain unaffected and continue to take place safely and as normal.’
During the fire, emergency services raced to the resort as flames spiraled out of control and panicked tourists sprinted away from the blaze.
Shocking footage showed smoke billowing from the resort as panicked tourists ran for their lives
Emergency services raced to the tourist hotspot as the fires grew out of control. Some people gathered to watch the carnage as the fire spread
Authorities said they were working to contain the flames to the area, fearing it could spread to nearby structures, according to Dominican Today.
One witness said on social media that firefighters were struggling to extinguish the fires.
‘Although fire trucks are already on the scene, the magnitude of the blaze exceeds the available equipment and greater support is required with higher-impact units to fully extinguish it,’ they wrote.
Video shows fire crews dousing burning buildings with water, but the hosepipe is measly by comparison to the structure.
Dozens of witnesses gathered around to watch the ensuing carnage as the hotel burned.
Viva Dominicus Beach is described on its website as an ‘all-inclusive paradise’ where ‘the sun and moon set the stage for nonstop fun’, surrounded by ‘pristine white sands’.
It offers a variety of entertainment, from restaurants and live music to sports like pickleball, paddleboarding and trapeze lessons.
The resort spills out onto the beach, complete with a large pool close to the sand.
The resort is a popular destination for American tourists. It has undergone extensive renovations over the past few years and is pictured before the fire
It has also undergone extensive renovations in the past few years, including common areas and many of its food offerings.
Famous for its clear water and white sand beaches, the Dominican Republic is the Caribbean’s top tourist destination. The country received around 5.6 million visitors in the first five months of this year.
