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Terrified guests at the torched Dominican resort ignored the chaos and tried to charge back into the inferno for their belongings, says a hotel worker present during the calamity.
“Nothing is more valuable than your life,” hotel staffer Sara Calabria, 27, told theDaily Mail .
“No object, no material possession,” she continued.
Photos and video shared by Calabria on social media show the blaze ripping through thatched roofs and other buildings at Wyndham’s Viva Dominicus in Bayahibe, a small fishing village in the Dominican Republic’s Altagracia province.
While the inferno grew by the minute guests and staff ran around in all different directions.
“Don’t risk everything for nothing,” she added.
Calabria is solemn about her home and livelihood being destroyed.
“It pains me to see what has been my workplace, but also my second home, destroyed,” said Calabria
“It hurts to see my office reduced to ashes.”
Calabria is the sister of famous Italian soccer player Davide Calabria, who played for AC Milan and now plays in Greece.
The massive, out-of-control fire killed one person and forced the evacuation of 1,700 people on Friday.
The deceased, 46-year-old Italian national Francesca Valentino, was visiting family in the Dominican Republic before her tragic death.
Authorities say that weather conditions and flammable building materials are to blame.
“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,” the Dominican Emergency Operations Center (COE) said.
“Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel experienced a fire yesterday,” said Wyndham in a statement.
“The Emergency Operations Center (COE) in conjunction with various regional fire departments contained the fire,” the statement continued.
“Hotel teams safely evacuated guests and staff. However, we are saddened that one guest perished, and we send our thoughts to the family while we await autopsy results to determine the cause.”
“At this time the hotel, which is independently owned and operated, is closed and will remain so until further notice.”