TV star mom, 46, who appeared on ‘quitting everything to change your life’ show died in fire at luxury Caribbean beach resort that sent 1,700 tourists running for their lives
An Italian woman who starred in a reality show about moving abroad for a new life has died after a fire broke out at a luxury Caribbean beach resort.
Francesca Valentino, 46, died in a fire at the Viva Dominicus Bayahibe resort in La Altagracia, Dominican Republic, on Friday.
According to the Rome-based outlet Il MessageroValentino is originally from Caserta and previously worked as a dance instructor in Rome.
She moved to the Dominican Republic and starred in the TV show ‘Mollo Tutto e Cambio Vita’, which means ‘I Give Up Everything to Change My Life’.
Valentino, who lives in Bayahibe, a small fishing village, got married in 2016, according to his posts on social media. He is the father of two daughters.
The outlet reported that he had recently returned to live in Italy and was on vacation at the time of his death.
Valentino and his brother quit their jobs in Italy and settled in the tourist city in 2014. he told the outlet in 2018. casertace How he came to the island: ‘I left Italy with a two-month plane ticket but never came back. I have lived here for four years, found love, got married and have a daughter who is already two years old. I’m happy with my choice; ‘I’ll never go back.’
While the rapidly spreading flames engulfed a large part of the facility, the fire forced approximately 1,700 guests and staff to flee the area.
Francesca Valentino was photographed with her husband in a Facebook photo. He died in a fire at the holiday village.
Valentino is a mother of two who originally comes from Caserta, Italy, and previously worked as a dance instructor in Rome.
While the rapidly spreading flames surrounded most of the resort, the fire forced approximately 1,700 guests and staff to flee the area.
Charred ruins of hotel seen in heartbreaking drone footage
In the statement made by the Dominican Republic emergency service DAEH, it was stated that 46-year-old Italian woman Francesca Valentino was killed.
New drone images A photo has emerged showing the charred remains of the facility following the fire that killed Valentino.
Another video showed firefighters standing outside the property’s soot-covered sandstone walls after they managed to extinguish it.
Three people were taken to medical facilities and six others were treated at the scene, DAEH said. Those affected included guests, visitors and emergency responders.
An Argentinian tourist told CDN37 He said he was staying at the hotel at the time and was on the beach when the fire started.
Lucrecia Castro said she managed to find alternative accommodation nearby after the fire forced the hotel to close.
Bianny Vilorio and Angélica Louis, two Dominican women who used day passes to enjoy the hotel, described the fire as a ‘catastrophe’ to CDN37.
They said the beach area, consisting of the lobby, bars, buffet area and the hotel’s luggage room, was burned.
Authorities said the fire ‘spread rapidly’ due to wind and that part of the resort’s roof was made of thatch, while the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Valentino regularly shared photos of his family on Facebook. Married in 2016, according to Facebook
He previously starred in a reality TV show in Italy about changing your life.
The facility has 692 rooms. A stay at the resort in June is estimated at $507 per night for two adults, according to Expedia.
Emergency services rushed to the tourist resort run by Wyndham Resorts as the flames grew out of control on Friday. First responders said firefighters were quickly dispatched to bring the fire under control.
Authorities said they were trying to contain the flames in the area because they feared the flames would spread to nearby structures in the resort, Dominican Today reported.
An eyewitness said on social media that firefighters were struggling to extinguish the fire.
‘Although fire trucks were already on scene, the size of the fire exceeds the equipment available and further support with higher-impact units is needed to fully extinguish the fire,’ they wrote.
In the video, flames can be seen rising from what appears to be a thatched roof at the top of the hotel.
Firefighters can be seen dousing the building with water, but the hose is minimal compared to the structure.
Dozens of witnesses gathered to watch the carnage as the hotel burned.
The resort is a popular destination for American tourists, who often share picturesque tropical photos of their trips to the island on social media.
The resort is a popular destination for American tourists. A photo was taken of Valentino, who died in the fire
The fire was brought under control, but the cause is under investigation
Police are seen here standing outside the facility that burned down on Friday
The hotel is described on its website as an ‘all-inclusive paradise’ surrounded by ‘pristine white sands’ where ‘the sun and moon set the stage for non-stop fun’.
The facility, which has 692 rooms, offers a variety of entertainment, from restaurants to live music, to sports such as pickleball, paddleboard and trapeze lessons.
A stay at the resort in June is estimated at $507 per night for two adults, according to Expedia.
The resort spreads out onto the beach, complete with a large pool close to the sand.
There has also been extensive renovations in the last few years, including common areas and many food options.
Famous for its clear waters and white sandy beaches, the Dominican Republic is the Caribbean’s top tourist destination and welcomed approximately 5.6 million visitors in the first five months of this year.
