A 46-year-old Italian woman was killed and nearly 1,700 tourists were evacuated after a major fire swept through a beachfront resort in Bayahibe in the Dominican Republic, authorities said on Friday.
The victim was identified as Francesca Valentino, according to the DAEH emergency service.
The fire occurred at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel and led to a large-scale emergency response as guests and staff were moved from affected areas.
Authorities said three people were taken to medical facilities, while six others, including guests, visitors and emergency responders, were treated at the scene.
The fire was later brought under control, but investigators are still working to determine its cause.
Videos and drone footage shared by local media showed thick black smoke rising above the Caribbean coastline as flames spread across parts of the resort.
Preliminary findings from the Dominican Republic's Emergency Operations Center indicated that the fire spread rapidly because of wind conditions and the flammable nature of sections of the roof constructed with palm materials.
Guests were relocated to nearby hotels after the evacuation.
Officials said the neighboring Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, which is part of the same hotel chain, was not damaged by the blaze.
Authorities also stated that tourism activities in Bayahibe and surrounding areas continued normally despite the incident.
Emergency officials said the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Italian authorities became involved following the death of the tourist and the impact on travelers staying at or near the resort.
According to reports, the Italian embassy assisted hundreds of Italian tourists affected by the fire, including helping those whose travel documents were destroyed.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said hotel teams safely evacuated guests and staff during the emergency.
The company added that the independently owned and operated hotel has been closed and will remain shut until further notice.
In a statement, Wyndham said, "We send our thoughts to the family while we await autopsy results to determine the cause."
The incident occurred in one of the Dominican Republic's best-known coastal tourism destinations.