Dominican resort blaze triggers mass evacuation of 1,700 guests
A hotel fire in a Dominican Republic tourist town forced the evacuation of about 1,700 guests, with authorities helping them return home as the situation was brought under control.
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Guests race back into blazing Dominican resort as inferno rages
Terrified guests and staff at Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic, tried to return to their rooms to grab belongings as a fast-spreading fire ripped through palm-thatched structures, leaving one Italian visitor dead and prompting the evacuation of about 1,700 people. Hotel worker Sara Calabria, sister of Italian soccer star Davide Calabria, described the chaos and urged that lives matter more than possessions, while authorities blamed wind and flammable roof materials for the blaze and said the resort is closed while investigations continue.
Massive Bayahibe resort fire leaves Italian tourist dead, nearly 1,700 evacuated
A deadly fire at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Resort in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic killed a 46-year-old Italian national and injured several others, prompting the evacuation of about 1,690 tourists as flames damaged multiple beachside buildings; authorities said the blaze spread rapidly due to palm-roof structures and wind, with guests moved to other hotels and investigations underway.
Bayahibe resort fire claims Italian tourist, triggers mass evacuation
A large fire at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach resort in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic killed a 46-year-old Italian tourist and forced about 1,700 guests to evacuate; initial assessments point to wind and thatched-roof construction as contributing factors, with the Italian embassy assisting affected travelers and authorities maintaining normal tourism activity in the area.
Resort blaze in the Dominican Republic sparks evacuation of 1,700 guests
A fire at a Dominican Republic resort forced the evacuation of about 1,700 guests, with emergency crews moving attendees to safety and securing the site.
Fatal hotel blaze in the Dominican Republic evacuates 1,700 tourists; Italian woman dies
A large fire at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic, killed a 46-year-old Italian woman and prompted the evacuation of about 1,700 tourists. Several others were hospitalized or treated on site, while investigators determine the cause. The adjacent Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace was not damaged and tourism in the area continued.
ESPN links Mike Pennel to woman found dead on his former Dominican Republic property
An ESPN report ties free-agent NFL defensive lineman Mike Pennel to Carli Franchesca Guzmán Roche, the woman whose body was found on land Pennel once owned in the Dominican Republic. Guzmán Roche had been missing since September 2021 and was discovered in January 2026 after the new property owner excavated. Pennel and his attorney had previously denied knowing her, but ESPN cites interviews and police records indicating they spent significant time together in the Dominican Republic. Pennel’s NFL career includes stints with the Packers, Jets, Chiefs, Falcons, Bears, and Bengals, and he won two Super Bowls with Kansas City.
Wander Franco Convicted in Dominican Republic Case, But No Prison Time
Franco was found guilty in a Dominican Republic retrial of sexual and psychological abuse of a minor but will not serve prison time because a three-judge panel granted him a judicial pardon; the conviction remains, and the minor’s mother was given a ten-year sentence for money laundering and threats. The verdict echoes last year’s outcome, with a full reading planned for June 16, while MLB and the Rays said they will cooperate with the league’s policy review; visa issues and possible MLB suspension could impede his return to the U.S. or active play.
Deportation Fears Push Haitian Mothers to Unsafe Births in the Dominican Republic
Haitian mothers in the Dominican Republic are delivering babies in unsafe, unsupervised settings after immigration agents began detaining undocumented migrants at public hospitals, a dragnet active for over a year that has deported mothers and newborns. The crackdown has driven many to avoid seeking hospital care for fear of deportation amid Haiti’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Wander Franco Found Guilty Again, Yet No Prison Time After Judicial Pardon
Rays shortstop Wander Franco was found guilty again in the Dominican Republic of sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, but a judicial pardon means he will not serve prison time; the ruling could jeopardize his MLB future by complicating visas to work in the United States and inviting MLB discipline, with potential contract implications for the Rays as Franco has not played since Aug. 2023.
Former Chiefs lineman named person of interest in Dominican Republic homicide investigation
Two-time Super Bowl champion Mike Pennel Jr. has been reportedly named a person of interest in the death of Carli Franchesca Guzman Roche in the Dominican Republic, with her body found on a property Pennel once owned. Pennel denies involvement, and ESPN cites anonymous sources in reporting the development. Pennel, a long NFL veteran who played for the Chiefs and Bengals and is currently a free agent, has previously faced suspensions and a civil suit in connection with other matters.
Underwater Cave Finds in Caribbean Reveal Largest Monkey Fossil Collection Yet
Divers exploring the flooded Cueva Macho in Hispaniola uncovered seven monkey skulls, five jawbones, and other remains of Antillothrix bernensis—the largest monkey fossil collection found on the Dominican island. 3D reconstructions show males and females were similar in size (up to about five pounds) and suggest a fruit-eating diet in small family groups; jaw injuries point to predation by a now-extinct giant owl, offering new insight into the species’ ecology and extinction and informing Caribbean mammal conservation.
Soto fumes after controversial WBC ending as USA advances
Juan Soto vented after a disputed final strike call ended the USA–Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic semifinal, with Geraldo Perdomo rung up on a pitch many saw below the zone to hand Team USA a 2-1 win; ABS is not yet used in the WBC but will arrive in MLB this season, and USA will face the winner of Venezuela vs. Italy next.
USA Reaches WBC Final After Controversial Strike Three Finish
Team USA edged the Dominican Republic 2-1 in a World Baseball Classic semifinal, sealed by a controversial called strike three on Geraldo Perdomo with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The absence of an ABS review sparked debate, but USA advances to its third straight WBC final and will face Italy or Venezuela after a bullpen shutdown of the DR in the late innings.
Skenes Quietly Shines as USA Reaches WBC Final
Paul Skenes delivered a calm, efficient 4 1/3 innings in Team USA’s 2-1 World Baseball Classic semifinal win over the Dominican Republic, earning manager Mark DeRosa’s praise as a “special presence” and reinforcing his role as a pitching pillar for the U.S. as they move toward the final; the game spotlighted star power, tense moments, and Skenes’ Air Force Academy background, with former teammates in attendance highlighting the personal backdrop to the performance.