A woman has died and nearly 1,700 tourists have been evacuated following a major fire at a beach resort in the Dominican Republic, authorities have confirmed.
The blaze broke out on Friday at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in Bayahibe, a popular Caribbean tourist destination on the country’s southeastern coast.
Emergency officials identified the victim as 46-year-old Italian national Francesca Valentino. According to the DAEH emergency service, three people were transported to medical facilities for treatment, while six others, including guests and emergency responders, received medical attention at the scene.
Videos shared on social media and by local media outlets showed thick black smoke rising above the coastline as flames rapidly spread across sections of the resort, particularly areas covered with palm-thatched roofing. The Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) said preliminary findings suggest the fire spread quickly because of highly flammable palm roofing materials combined with windy conditions.
“Preliminary observations indicate that the fire spread rapidly due to the flammable nature of parts of the roof structures made of palm, as well as wind conditions,” the agency stated. Emergency teams successfully evacuated approximately 1,700 guests and staff members from the hotel. Affected tourists were relocated to nearby accommodation facilities.
Authorities confirmed that the nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, which is part of the same hotel chain, was not damaged by the fire. The blaze was eventually brought under control, although investigations into its exact cause are still ongoing. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which franchises thousands of hotels worldwide, had not issued an immediate public statement regarding the incident.
Officials reassured visitors that tourism activities in Bayahibe and surrounding areas remain unaffected. “Tourist activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area remain unaffected and continue to take place safely and as normal,” the COE said.
The Dominican Republic remains the Caribbean’s leading tourist destination, welcoming approximately 5.6 million visitors during the first five months of 2026.
