Fatal Blaze at Luxury Resort Engulfs Bayahibe

Sat Jun 20 2026 13:06:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A fire at Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach in Bayahibe claims one tourist’s life and forces 1,700 guests to evacuate. Authorities are investigating and repatriating victims.

A devastating fire tore through the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach resort in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic, killing a 46‑year‑old Italian tourist and forcing the evacuation of around 1,700 guests. The blaze, fueled by wind and thatched roofs, was captured by drone footage showing extensive damage and black smoke. Emergency services pulled the fire under and moved guests to alternate hotels while the government’s Emergency Operations Center confirmed that local tourism was not disrupted. The Italian embassy is assisting stranded tourists, issuing new passports for those whose documents were destroyed and arranging returns to Italy.

Fatal Blaze at Luxury Resort Engulfs Bayahibe

A massive fire broke out at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach resort in Bayahibe on the Caribbean coast, killing one woman and forcing almost 1,700 guests to evacuate on Friday morning.

The victim, a 46‑year‑old Italian tourist, was identified by the DAEH emergency services. Three others were treated at local medical facilities and six received on‑site care.

Drone footage captured the blaze’s reach, with numerous buildings ablaze and black smoke sweeping across the resort. Preliminary investigations point to strong winds and the flammable thatched roofs spread the flames quickly.

The Island’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) reported that the fire has been contained and displaced guests have been shifted to other accommodation. Local tourism activities remain unaffected.

An Italian news agency, Ansa, mentioned that the Italian ambassador met the deceased woman’s husband at the hospital and that the embassy is helping about 285 Italian tourists—issuing emergency passports and arranging flights to their home country.

Bayahibe, known for its clear blue waters and sandy beaches, is a major resort destination. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, a global hotel operator, has been asked to comment on the incident.