A large fire almost completely destroyed the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham luxury resort in Bayahibe on Friday. The blaze forced the evacuation of approximately 1,690 tourists, who were moved to other hotels and nearby housing facilities.
Authorities confirmed that one person, an Italian woman, died in the fire, while several other tourists required medical assistance.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. The country's Emergency Operations Center noted that the blaze appeared to spread rapidly due to wind and the fact that part of the resort's roof was made of thatch.
The Dominicus Palace, another nearby resort under the Viva Wyndham brand, was not damaged by the fire and continues to operate as normal.