National citizens affected by the fire are being monitored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Authorities confirm at least one death and the evacuation of almost 1,700 people from the hotel
Eight Portuguese citizens were evacuated from a hotel in the Dominican Republic that forced the evacuation of almost 1,700 people. Everyone is fine, an official source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to CNN Portugal.
The fire hit the resort where two Portuguese families were staying, who have since been relocated to other hotel units. At least four national citizens were left without documents during the fire.
“It was a fire, in fact, of great proportions,” said this Saturday the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, in statements to RTP, on the sidelines of the 43rd National Congress of the PSD, in Anadia. “There were eight Portuguese people staying and they are all in good health. At the moment, they have already been relocated to other hotels and we are working on their return.”
According to an official source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, national citizens are being monitored through the Portuguese Embassy in Mexico, which has consular jurisdiction over the Dominican Republic. The Portuguese honorary consul in the country is also in contact with all affected Portuguese.
Paulo Rangel explained that “some of them, due to the fire, were left without documents” and that the necessary documentation for their return is being handled by the Portuguese authorities. The Portuguese embassy in Mexico City and the honorary consul in the Dominican Republic are, he added, “in permanent contact with these two families”.
“I would say that, at this moment, everything went well, from the point of view that none [família] suffered no injuries,” said the minister. “They have already been relocated and we are already dealing with the return journey and the necessary documentation, since at least four of them were left without documents.”
The government official highlighted that “there is no news for any alarm”, as everyone managed to get out “safe and sound”. Even so, he recognized that the Portuguese experienced “a traumatic situation” and that they would have suffered losses “from a patrimonial point of view”.
The fire caused at least one death: a 46-year-old Italian tourist. Dominican authorities identified the victim as Francesca Valentino.
The fire broke out at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach, in Bayahibe, a tourist area in the southeast of the Dominican Republic. Local authorities indicated that around 1,690 people were evacuated from the unit, including guests, visitors and workers. At least three people were transported to health facilities and another six received assistance on site.
The causes of the fire are still being investigated. According to Dominican emergency authorities, the flames spread quickly due to the wind and flammable materials used on part of the resort’s roofs. The evacuated guests were sent to other hotel units and nearby accommodation.
[Notícia atualizada às 20h00 com as declarações de Paulo Rangel]
