The deadly blaze occurred at a luxury beach resort in the Dominican Republic on Friday, June 19

NEED TO KNOW

• At least one person has died after a fire at a hotel in the Dominican Republic on Friday, June 19
• Nearly 1,700 guests, including over 200 children, were evacuated and relocated to nearby hotels for safety
• Firefighters cited flammable roof materials and wind conditions as factors in the fire’s rapid spread

At least one tourist died and several others were injured in a hotel fire in the Dominican Republic.

A fire broke out at the Viva Dominicus Beach Hotel in the town of Bayahibe in the early hours of Friday, June 19, prompting the evacuation of 1,690 guests, the DAEH emergency services (DAEH) said in a news release posted on Instagram.

“The Emergency Operations Centre (COE) reports that emergency units are attending to a fire [at the hotel],” the DAEH said in the translated post. “The COE maintains control and general coordination of response operations, in conjunction with … the National System of Prevention, Mitigation and Response, who continue to work uninterruptedly to control and completely stifle the accident.”

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Italian tourist Francesca Valentina, 46, suffered severe smoke inhalation in the fire, local outlets Diario Libre and Listín Diario reported, citing the COE. She was transferred to a health center in La Romana province, where she later died.

Nine others received medical treatment amid the incident, Reuters reported.

The evacuated hotel guests — including 177 children and 21 infants — were relocated to nearby hotels where they were assessed, COE Director Juan Manuel Méndez told Diario Libre.

Footage from the incident posted on social media shows several buildings in the facility on fire, with thick black smoke trailing from the roofs as firefighters attempt to stop the blaze.

"Preliminary observations indicate that the fire spread rapidly due to the flammable nature of parts of the roof structures made of palm, as well as wind conditions," said the COE in a statement obtained by Reuters.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace hotel resumed normal operations after the fire was brought under control, the DAEH said in its news release.

“Valuable support was received from Central Romana Corporation and Punta Cana International Airport, whose specialized resources and fire response capabilities were integrated into operations, strengthening the work of control and suppression of the accident,” said the DAEH. “…Guests were mobilized to safe and ventilated areas, in accordance with the established protocols."

The Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace hotel, DAEH and COE did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further comment.

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