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 fireplace. An Italian vacationer died on June 19 after inhaling smoke from a big fireplace at a resort within the resort city of Bayahibe, southeastern Dominican Republic, an official informed AFP.
Erickson Polanco | Afp | Getty Photographs
Dominican authorities on Saturday had been working to make sure that international vacationers caught up in an enormous fireplace that just about fully destroyed a luxurious resort the day earlier than might return to their house international locations.
The blaze on the Viva Dominicus Seaside by Wyndham resort in Bayahibe — a well-liked vacation spot for U.S. and worldwide vacationers on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern coast — pressured the evacuation of almost 1,700 vacationers and brought on the demise of an Italian nationwide, authorities mentioned.
“Sadly, they misplaced their identification paperwork, together with their passports,” mentioned Amanda Santana, a resort government. “Now we have been coordinating with the embassies and governments of these international locations to facilitate the entry of these visitors.”
Resort administration officers mentioned they’re working with the police to expedite the submitting of studies on-line for visitors who want them. They added that vacationers have been relocated to accommodations in Punta Cana and Bayahibe.
Normal Manuel Méndez, director of the nation’s Emergency Operations Heart, mentioned authorities had been investigating the reason for the Italian girl’s demise. He additionally mentioned tourism actions within the space had been persevering with as regular.
View of the pool space and broken vegetation on the Viva Dominicus Seaside resort following a fireplace in Bayahibe, La Altagracia province, Dominican Republic, on July 20, 2026. An Italian vacationer died on June 19 after inhaling smoke from a big fireplace at a resort within the resort city of Bayahibe, southeastern Dominican Republic, an official informed AFP.
Erickson Polanco | Afp | Getty Photographs
On the time of the hearth, the resort was working at 84% occupancy.
The Emergency Operations Heart mentioned it appeared the “fireplace unfold quickly” resulting from wind and since a part of the resort’s roof was product of thatch.
