Santo Domingo Tanker Fire Leaves Two Dead, Closes Malecón

Two people were killed Monday morning after an accident involving a fuel tanker triggered a fire on George Washington Avenue, the main road along Santo Domingo’s Malecón. The crash occurred near the Sheraton Hotel in the National District, bringing emergency crews to the scene and forcing authorities to shut the roadway in both directions.

José Luis Frómeta Herasme, chief of the National District Fire Department, said two bodies were located during the emergency response. One was found inside a sport utility vehicle, while the other was discovered beside the tanker carrying fuel. Authorities had not yet formally identified the victims at the time of the latest reports.

Two Bodies Found At The Scene

Frómeta Herasme said investigators believed the victims could be the tanker driver and the driver of one of the SUVs involved in the crash, although that identification remained preliminary. The authorities were continuing the process of recovering and identifying the bodies.

The incident involved the fuel tanker as well as a sport utility vehicle, a car and a motorcycle, according to information provided at the scene. The tanker was carrying diesel, which required firefighters to use foam as part of their efforts to extinguish the flames and prevent the fire from spreading.

Emergency Response Closes George Washington Avenue

The response involved 11 units from the National District Fire Department, two medical units, four National Police units, one unit from the General Directorate of Traffic Safety and Land Transportation (DIGESETT), one unit from the Ministry of Public Works and personnel from the Emergency Operations Center (COE), the Dominican Republic’s agency responsible for coordinating responses to major emergencies.

The 9-1-1 emergency system also deployed drones equipped with thermal cameras to provide aerial support for assessment and coordination. Firefighters and other emergency personnel remained in the area as they worked to secure the scene and complete operations.

The fire caused a complete closure of George Washington Avenue in both directions. The disruption affected one of Santo Domingo’s principal east-west corridors along the waterfront, with traffic restrictions extending into surrounding streets during the morning commute.

Cause Of Fire Remains Under Investigation

Authorities have not officially established what caused the crash and subsequent fire. They were also working to determine the company that owns the tanker involved in the incident.

The latest developments represent a significant change from the initial reports, which focused on the fire and emergency response before authorities had confirmed whether there were casualties. The discovery of two bodies has since made the investigation into the crash and the circumstances surrounding the tanker a central part of the response.

George Washington Avenue is a major waterfront route through Santo Domingo and forms part of the Malecón, an area used daily by commuters as well as residents and visitors moving between central parts of the capital. The full road closure is therefore expected to affect traffic in the surrounding area while emergency operations and the investigation continue.