A massive fire tore through a luxury beachfront resort in the Dominican Republic on Friday, killing one tourist and forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,700 guests.
Authorities confirmed that the victim was a 46-year-old Italian woman who was staying at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach resort in Bayahibe, a popular tourist destination on the country’s southeastern coast. Three people were taken to hospital for treatment, while six others were treated at the scene. Drone footage captured the scale of the disaster, showing multiple resort buildings engulfed in flames as thick black smoke billowed into the sky. Emergency responders worked for hours to contain the blaze and safely evacuate guests and staff from the property.
The Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center said approximately 1,690 tourists were relocated to nearby hotels and accommodation facilities. Officials later confirmed the fire had been brought under control and that tourism activities in Bayahibe and surrounding areas remained largely unaffected. Preliminary investigations suggest strong winds and the presence of flammable thatched roofing materials contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. However, the exact cause remains under investigation.
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts said hotel teams acted quickly to evacuate guests and employees, while expressing condolences to the family of the deceased tourist. The company noted that the resort, which is independently owned and operated under the Wyndham brand, will remain closed until further notice.
The incident has renewed attention on emergency preparedness and fire safety measures at tourism properties across the Caribbean, as officials continue investigating one of the most significant resort fires in the Dominican Republic in recent years.
