The Santo Domingo authorities confirmed to the Italian ambassador the death of an Italian citizen involved in the fire at the resort in the Bayahibe area. This was announced by the Farnesina.
The Italian citizen apparently suffered a respiratory crisis while on the beach, where she had rushed together with the other tourists to evacuate the hotel rooms. She lost consciousness from inhaling carbon monoxide when a wave of smoke from the burned site hit her. She was transported to hospital by private car.
In the hospital the ambassador met the woman’s husband – whose initials the authorities are currently releasing: FV – and offered him the assistance of the embassy together with the resort officials who are following all the other Italians involved in the fire.
The work of assistance and verification of the conditions of compatriots by Italian diplomatic officials continues. The government of the Dominican Republic sent the head of civil protection and two ministers to the disaster site; operational meetings were held with the Italian embassy and the resort managers to guarantee assistance during the emergency. At the moment there are no other victims linked directly or indirectly to the fire, other checks are underway.
The Farnesina had previously made it known that through the Italian Embassy in Santo Domingo, it intervened to offer assistance to the Italian guests of the Bravo Viva Dominicus Beach resort where the fire broke out.
The fire – explains the Farnesina in a note – affected some common areas of the structure and all guests were made safe. Alpitour, the tour operator that supports many Italian tourists, reported the presence of 285 compatriots in the resort and other compatriots in connected structures not involved in the fire.
All tourists present were evacuated and made safe. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani followed the speech.
Embassy officials with the ambassador are present on site and are following the operations for the return of the compatriots to Italy. A first return flight was scheduled for Friday to Verona with 130 compatriots on board. A second flight is scheduled for Saturday with another 80 citizens.
The embassy activated an emergency unit to issue travel documents to compatriots who had lost their passports and to provide assistance.