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One idiosyncratic was killed and respective others were wounded erstwhile a monolithic occurrence broke retired astatine a luxury formation edifice successful the Dominican Republic connected Friday, section officials said.
The occurrence broke retired astatine astir 11 a.m. astatine Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach, a four-star edifice successful the municipality of Bayahibe successful the La Altagracia province, according to officials. Bayahibe is simply a fashionable destination for American and planetary tourists connected the southeastern seashore of the island.
In a quality league Friday evening, Juan Manuel Mendez, caput of the Dominican Republic's Emergency Operations Center, said 1 idiosyncratic died astatine the country of the occurrence and astatine slightest 9 others were injured.
Mendez said 3 of the injured patients were transported to country hospitals, and six were treated connected scene.
Earlier Friday, an exigency authoritative for the adjacent La Romana state told CBS News the idiosyncratic killed was an Italian woman.
A occurrence burns astatine the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach edifice successful Bayahibe, Dominican Republic. June 19, 2026.
Gojko Culibrk
Cellphone videos captured thatch-roof structures engulfed successful fast-spreading flames crossed the beachside resort. Video showed crowds swimming successful the water conscionable feet from the blaze, arsenic fume and flames billowed into the air.
Firefighters from La Romana responded arsenic section crews struggled to incorporate the blaze.
The Emergency Operations Center said successful a connection that the astir 1,690 guests staying astatine the edifice were evacuated to different hotels and adjacent lodging facilities. It besides noted that Viva Wyndham's different adjacent resort, the Dominicus Palace, was not damaged by the occurrence and was operating arsenic normal.
The Emergency Operations Center said a preliminary probe recovered that the blaze apt dispersed rapidly due to the fact that a information of the resort's extortion was made of cane, which is simply a much combustible material. Windy conditions besides contributed to the spread.
The origin of the occurrence is nether investigation, the bureau said.
"At this time, we are actively gathering the facts regarding the incidental and coordinating with the due authorities and on-site teams," a spokesperson for Viva Resorts by Wyndham told CBS News successful a statement. "As this process is ongoing, we volition not beryllium providing remark astatine this time."
José Diaz and Lilia Luciano contributed to this report.
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