A devastating blaze at a luxury beach resort in the Dominican Republic killed a tourist and forced the evacuation of almost 1,700 guests.
The blaze took place early Friday morning at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach hotel in Bayahibe, a popular resort town on the Caribbean coast. The fire engulfed several buildings, spreading quickly due to strong winds and the flammable thatched roofs on some structures. Thick black smoke lifted into the sky, turning the beach into a dramatic scene for nearby observers.
The incident killed a 46‑year‑old Italian tourist, according to the local Department of Emergency Services (DAEH). Three more guests were taken to nearby medical facilities, and six were treated on the resort grounds. Authorities confirmed that nearly 1,700 guests were evacuated to other accommodations as the fire was brought under control.
Italian diplomatic officials were involved; the Italian ambassador to the Dominican Republic met with the deceased victim’s husband at the hospital. The embassy is assisting about 285 Italian tourists who were staying at the resort or around it, issuing emergency passports and arranging flights back home.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which franchises around 8,400 hotels worldwide, said “hotel teams safely evacuated guests and staff, but one guest died.” The resort remains closed until further notice, with hotel management awaiting autopsy results to determine the exact cause of the death.
Despite the disaster, tourist activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area were reported to remain largely unaffected according to the interim Emergency Operations Center (COE). Local officials are coordinating the evacuation and next‑phase fire‑fighting efforts while the resort’s environmental impact is being assessed.
