Dominican Resort Tragedy
Massive fire at Dominican Republic luxury resort kills one tourist, evacuating nearly 1,700 guests.
Anonymous
A massive fire tore through the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic on June 19, killing one tourist and forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,700 guests. The blaze, which broke out around 11:00 AM local time, spread "with enormous speed" across the four-star property, according to CBS News.
The sole fatality was Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian tourist from Caserta, who died of respiratory failure from smoke inhalation at a hospital in La Romana, according to Dominican Today. Nine other guests were injured — three hospitalized and six treated on-site.
Thatched Roofs and High Winds Fueled the Blaze
The fire started in a central area of the resort and spread fast. High winds and the resort's thatched palm roofing — known locally as "canas" — acted as fuel. Juan Manuel Mendez, head of the Dominican Emergency Operations Center (COE), said "preliminary observations indicate that the fire spread rapidly due to the flammable nature of the roof structures made of palm," according to Reuters.
Mobile phone footage showed hundreds of guests fleeing to the beach and standing waist-deep in the Caribbean Sea to escape the smoke, according to Hindustan Times. The images spread quickly on social media, alarming travelers with summer bookings in the region.
15 Fire Units Responded, Guests Relocated to Nearby Resorts
More than 15 firefighting units arrived from La Romana, San Pedro de MacorÃs, Higüey, and Punta Cana. Eight emergency medical units and two drone units also responded, according to Dominican Today. The COE declared the fire under control by early evening, though hotspots in warehouse and staff areas lingered.
All 1,690 evacuated guests were moved to nearby properties, including the sister resort Viva Dominicus Palace and other hotels like Catalonia and Sunscape, according to Associated Press. Dominican authorities said tourist activities in the surrounding area remained unaffected.
Italy Monitors 285 Nationals; Wyndham Silent After the Fire
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he was personally monitoring the situation to help the estimated 285 Italian nationals who had been staying at the resort, according to Sky News. Italian tour operator Alpitour confirmed that all surviving Italian guests were evacuated safely.
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, which franchises the property across its network of 8,400 hotels worldwide, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Reuters. The Dominican Ministry of Tourism promised logistical support to help travelers either continue their vacations or return home.
A Pattern of Resort Fires Raises Safety Questions
This is not the first major resort fire in the Dominican Republic. Club Med Punta Cana suffered a similar blaze in September 2024, and 12 residences at Caletón Villas in Cap Cana burned in July 2025, according to NBC News. Safety experts say thatched roofs in windy coastal areas are high-risk. Synthetic thatch that meets Class A fire ratings is increasingly recommended for new builds.
The Dominican Republic drew 2.1 million American visitors in Q1 2026 — a record high — and 5.6 million total visitors in the first five months of the year, according to NBC News. The cause of the Bayahibe fire is still under investigation. The resort also faced a separate £5.5 million lawsuit in February 2025, filed by a British man whose wife and son died of food poisoning at the same property.
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