A massive blaze broke out early Friday morning at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach resort in the Caribbean town of Bayahibe, expelling nearly 1,700 guests as the fire spread across structures.
The blaze killed a 46‑year‑old Italian tourist, identified by local emergency services as a guest of the resort, and left three others wounded at the hospital and six treated on site. The cause remains under investigation, with officials citing wind‑driven spread aided by the thatched roofs of several buildings.
Drone footage captured the sheer scale of the incident, showing thick black smoke and building damage across the beachfront complex. While authorities said the fire was brought under control and guests were relocated to other hotels, they added that tourist activities in the town and its surroundings were not affected.
Italian Embassy officials met with the deceased tourist’s husband in a local hospital and are helping about 285 Italian nationals who were staying at the resort or nearby, issuing emergency passports for those whose documents were destroyed and arranging flights back home.
The resort town of Bayahibe is famous for its clear waters and white sand beaches, a setting that was starkly altered by the sudden burst of flames and the roar of machinery used in firefighting efforts. Websites have also reported that Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which owns and franchises about 8,400 hotels worldwide, has been contacted for comment on the incident, though no statement has yet been released.
