Travel agencies and the U.S. State Department are monitoring the situation in the Dominican Republic after three Americans, including a Pennsylvania woman, died while vacationing there.

The Caribbean nation is a top travel destination for Liberty Travel customers, according to Allison Wallace, a spokeswoman for Flight Centre Travel Group, Liberty’s parent company.

“Our first priority is to ensure the safety and comfort of our customers, regardless of their destination,” Wallace said.

Liberty has five locations in the Pittsburgh area and the company will work with people who may want to modify travel reservations based upon the grim news, Wallace said.

Americans traveling to the Dominican Republic have been warned to be vigilant by the State Department since April, when the country was placed on a Level 2 advisory because of crime on the island.

“Violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault, is a concern throughout the Dominican Republic,” a State Department official told the Trib, adding the U.S. Embassy is monitoring the investigations of the Americans’ deaths by Dominican authority.

None of the deaths involved violence and they do not appear to be connected, Dominican authorities told the State Department.

Miranda Schaup-Werner, 41, of Allentown, died May 25 hours after falling ill and a Maryland couple were found dead May 30 inside their hotel rooms. All three were staying at sister resorts there.

“If someone is going, don’t cancel,” said Laurie Lucianne Scheid, who operates Jazz Music Travel in New Kensington. “You can register your trip with the U.S. Department of State as a precaution and be sure to have trip insurance.”

Travel to places like the Dominican Republic comes with risks, she said, and she encouraged people making trips there to be aware of their surroundings and not to explore on their own.

“You should pay the extra and let the resort’s bus or the vacation package’s bus take you,” Scheid said.

More than 2 million Americans visit the Dominican Republic each year.

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