The woman killed in the massive inferno that engulfed a resort in the Dominican Republic was an Italian mother of two who was visiting family on the island when the fire broke out.
Francesca Valentino was the only person killed at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach hotel, which caught fire on Friday. The fire forced 1,700 others to evacuate.
Authorities said Valentino, 46, was killed by smoke inhalation.
She was enjoying a trip with her husband of a decade ago when tragedy struck. As reported by the Naples Corriere newspaper.
The couple were visiting friends and family in Bayahibe, where her husband is originally from, and where they first met.
Valentino had moved to the fishing village from Italy, struck up a love story with her husband, and married in 2017, according to what she posted on Facebook.
They welcomed two daughters on the island before eventually returning to Valentino’s hometown of Caserta, a city 22 miles north of Naples.
Valentino, a former dancer, ran a small bed and breakfast.
The mother of two is the only one killed in the violent and rapidly spreading fire, which authorities say was ignited by “roof structures made of palm trees” and unfavorable weather conditions.
“Initial observations indicate that the fire spread rapidly due to the flammable nature of parts of the palm roof structures, as well as wind conditions,” the Dominican Emergency Operations Center (COE) said.
Three others were taken to medical facilities in Bayahibe, and six others were treated at the scene, according to the Dominican Republic’s Pre-Hospital Emergency Directorate.