Newly surfaced footage has shown the severe destruction left behind at a luxury Caribbean beach resort after a deadly fire tore through the property.
The Viva Dominicus Bayahibe resort in La Altagracia, Dominican Republic, was reduced to charred wreckage after flames swept through the hotel on Friday.
The rapidly spreading blaze forced close to 1,700 guests and staff members to evacuate as large sections of the resort were consumed by fire.
Images from the aftermath show the blackened remains of the hotel following the incident, which claimed the life of an Italian tourist.
Firefighters could be seen outside the resort’s soot-stained sandstone walls after crews succeeded in bringing the inferno under control.
The Dominican Republic’s emergency service, DAEH, identified the victim as 46-year-old Italian national Francesca Valentino.
According to DAEH, three people were transported to medical facilities, while six others received treatment at the scene. Those affected included guests, visitors and emergency responders.
One Argentinian tourist told CDN37 that she was staying at the hotel at the time and was on the beach when the fire started.
The blaze forced nearly 1,700 guests and staff to flee as fast-moving flames engulfed much of the resort.
The charred remains of the hotel are seen in heartbreaking drone footage
Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian woman, was killed, the Dominican Republic’s emergency service DAEH said in a statement
Police are seen here standing outside the resort as it burned on Friday
Lucrecia Castro told the outlet that she managed to find alternative accommodation nearby after the fire forced the hotel to close.
Bianny Vilorio and Angélica Louis, two Dominican women who were using a day pass to enjoy the hotel, described the fire as ‘catastrophic’ to CDN37.
They said it burned the beach area, which consists of the lobby, the bars, the buffet area, and the hotel’s luggage room.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation with officials saying it ‘spread rapidly’ due to wind and because part of the resort’s roof was made of thatch.
Emergency services raced to the tourist hotspot, which is operated by Wyndham Resorts, as the flames spiraled out of control on Friday.
First responders said fire crews were deployed quickly to contain the inferno.
Authorities said they were working to contain the flames to the area, fearing it could spread to nearby structures in the resort, according to Dominican Today.
One witness said on social media that firefighters were struggling to extinguish the fires.
The resort is a popular destination for American tourists, who often share picturesque tropical photos of their trips to the island across social media
‘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 flames raging through what appears to be a thatched roof on top of the hotel.
Fire crews can be seen dousing the building 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.
The resort is a popular destination for American tourists, who often share picturesque tropical photos of their trips to the island across social media.
The hotel 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 fire was brought under control but its causes were still being investigated
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, receiving some 5.6 million visitors in the first five months of this year.
