Fire destroys luxury resort in Dominican Republic

A large fire almost completely destroyed a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic on Friday, forcing the evacuation of almost 1,700 tourists, authorities said.

Local media reported an Italian tourist died in the fire and several other tourists required medical assistance. An aerial drone extinguishing the flames from the fire at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach hotel. Dark clouds of smoke billowing from the Caribbean coastline as flames engulfed the resort's straw roof.

Authorities at the Emergency Operation Center or COE said the fire spread rapidly due to the nature of part of the roof structure made from dry palm leaf "as well as the wind conditions present in the area, factors that would have contributed to the expansion of the flames," General Manuel Mendez, director of Emergency Operation Center said. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

He said 1,690 guests were evacuated from the hotel and were relocated to nearby hotels. Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian woman was killed in the fire at the hotel according to an emergency service statement.

The Dominican Republic is famous for its white sand beaches and has attracted some 5.6 million visitors in the first five months of this year.