A 46-year-old Italian tourist has died after a major fire tore through a beachfront hotel in the Dominican Republic, forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,700 guests and staff.
Francesca Valentino was killed in the blaze at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in Bayahibe, a popular resort town on the country's Caribbean coast, emergency officials said.
Three people were taken to hospital, while six others received treatment at the scene. Those affected included hotel guests, visitors and emergency responders.
Videos shared by local media showed thick black smoke rising above the coastline as flames engulfed parts of the resort's palm-thatched roof.
According to the country's Emergency Operations Center (COE), the fire spread quickly because of the highly flammable roofing materials and strong winds.
"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 agency said.
Firefighters eventually brought the blaze under control, but investigators are still working to determine what caused it.
Authorities said all guests were safely evacuated and relocated to nearby accommodation. The neighbouring Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, which belongs to the same hotel group, was not damaged.
Officials sought to reassure visitors that the incident had not affected tourism in the area.
"Tourist activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area remain unaffected and continue to take place safely and as normal," the COE said.
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, which franchises some 8,400 hotels worldwide, said in a statement that it was saddened by the guest's death and sent its thoughts to her family.
The company added that the independently owned and operated hotel was closed and would remain so until further notice.
The Dominican Republic remains the Caribbean's most visited tourist destination, attracting around 5.6 million visitors during the first five months of this year alone.
Read more:
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions...
Freight on the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway could soon move faster across borders after Georgia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye signed a new ...
At midnight on 30 September, the last U.S. troops are due to leave Iraq, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and cost the ...
A Russian guided aerial bomb has struck an apartment building in Kharkiv, injuring 22 people, including children, according to the city’s mayor. The strike follows a day of near-continuous Russian attacks across Ukraine that killed at least five people.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 September 2026. These are the top stories making headlines in technology.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral ties and key regional and international developments, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić resigned on Sunday, ending his second and final five-year term and paving the way for an early presidential election as the country prepares for a snap parliamentary vote on 25 October.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions.
At midnight on 30 September, the last U.S. troops are due to leave Iraq, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and cost the lives of around 4,500 American service members.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 29 September 2026, with the latest from Azerbaijan, from $10.8 billion in investment deals and Formula 1 drama to diplomacy and preparations for major FIFA tournaments.
Crude oil exports from major Middle Eastern producers rebounded in September to their highest level since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in late February, according to data from analytics firm Kpler.
Russian strikes hit Kyiv and Ukraine’s Black Sea region of Odesa overnight into Tuesday, damaging infrastructure and civilian sites, while Moscow said it had also targeted vessels carrying military cargo.
British police are investigating whether individuals linked to a foreign state were involved in an apparent plot targeting RAF Fairford, a British airbase used by the United States, while five suspects arrested in connection with the case are being released on bail.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment