A major fire tore through a luxury beachfront resort in the Dominican Republic on Friday, forcing the evacuation of around 1,690 tourists and leaving large parts of the property severely damaged, according to local authorities.
The blaze broke out at the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort in Bayahibe, a popular tourist destination on the country’s southeastern coast. Emergency services rushed to the scene as flames spread quickly through several buildings, fuelled by strong winds and the resort’s partially thatched roofing structure.
Authorities said guests were evacuated in an emergency operation and relocated to nearby hotels and alternative accommodation as firefighters worked to bring the situation under control. Officials later confirmed that the fire had caused extensive destruction across multiple sections of the resort.
Local media reported that an Italian tourist died following the incident, a detail later confirmed by the Italian embassy. According to reports, the woman is believed to have suffered a respiratory crisis after inhaling heavy smoke while fleeing the resort toward the beach. Italian news agency ANSA said she lost consciousness after being exposed to dense fumes, and was later taken to hospital, where her husband was informed of her death by the Italian ambassador.
The Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Centre said initial findings suggested the fire spread rapidly due to strong winds combined with the structure of the resort buildings, which included flammable roofing materials. An official investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
Despite the scale of the destruction, authorities confirmed that a neighbouring property within the same hotel group, the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, was not affected and continued to operate normally.
Police shared video footage on social media showing the aftermath of the fire, with several structures reduced to rubble and charred remains scattered across the site. Officials described the emergency response as swift and coordinated, adding that the situation had been brought under control after intensive firefighting efforts.
Footage circulating online captured thick plumes of black smoke rising above the resort as flames engulfed the complex, prompting concern among tourists and residents in the surrounding area.
While guests have since been relocated and services restored in unaffected areas, the full extent of the damage is still being assessed as investigators work to establish how the fire began and why it spread so quickly through the resort.
