A safety guard walks previous fire-damaged buildings on the Viva Dominicus Seaside resort in Bayahibe, La Altagracia province, Dominican Republic, on July 20, 2026, following a hearth. An Italian vacationer died on June 19 after inhaling smoke from a big hearth at a resort within the resort city of Bayahibe, southeastern Dominican Republic, an official instructed AFP.
Erickson Polanco | Afp | Getty Pictures
Dominican authorities on Saturday have been working to make sure that overseas vacationers caught up in a large hearth that just about fully destroyed a luxurious resort the day earlier than might return to their residence nations.
The blaze on the Viva Dominicus Seaside by Wyndham resort in Bayahibe — a preferred vacation spot for U.S. and worldwide vacationers on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern coast — compelled the evacuation of almost 1,700 vacationers and induced the loss of life of an Italian nationwide, authorities mentioned.
“Sadly, they misplaced their id paperwork, together with their passports,” mentioned Amanda Santana, a resort government. “We’ve been coordinating with the embassies and governments of these nations to facilitate the entry of these visitors.”
Lodge administration officers mentioned they’re working with the police to expedite the submitting of reviews on-line for visitors who want them. They added that vacationers have been relocated to resorts in Punta Cana and Bayahibe.
Normal Manuel Méndez, director of the nation’s Emergency Operations Middle, mentioned authorities have been investigating the reason for the Italian lady’s loss of life. He additionally mentioned tourism actions within the space have been persevering with as regular.
View of the pool space and broken vegetation on the Viva Dominicus Seaside resort following a hearth in Bayahibe, La Altagracia province, Dominican Republic, on July 20, 2026. An Italian vacationer died on June 19 after inhaling smoke from a big hearth at a resort within the resort city of Bayahibe, southeastern Dominican Republic, an official instructed AFP.
Erickson Polanco | Afp | Getty Pictures
On the time of the hearth, the resort was working at 84% occupancy.
The Emergency Operations Middle mentioned it appeared the “hearth unfold quickly” on account of wind and since a part of the resort’s roof was manufactured from thatch.
