A holiday paradise turned into a scene of panic after a massive fire broke out at a beachfront hotel in the Dominican Republic.
Leaving one tourist dead and forcing nearly 1,700 guests to evacuate.
The victim was identified as 46-year-old Italian visitor Francesca Valentino.
She died during the blaze at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in Bayahibe, emergency officials said.
Several others were affected, including hotel guests, visitors and emergency workers.
Three people were taken to medical facilities, while six were treated at the scene.
Videos from the resort showed thick black smoke rising above the Caribbean coastline as flames tore through the hotel’s palm-covered roof.
Fire Raises Safety Questions
Officials said the fire spread quickly because parts of the structure were made from highly flammable materials and strong winds helped fuel the flames.
The emergency was eventually brought under control, but investigators are still working to determine what caused the blaze.
Guests were moved to nearby hotels, while another property in the same resort chain remained unharmed.
Authorities stressed that tourism in Bayahibe continues as normal.
But the incident raises an important question: how do luxury resorts balance the beauty of traditional designs with the need for modern safety standards?
