A massive fire erupted early Friday at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach resort on the Caribbean coast of the Dominican Republic, claiming the life of a 46‑year‑old Italian tourist.
Emergency services said the blaze spread quickly due to strong winds and the thatched roofs on several buildings, though investigators have not yet identified a definitive cause. The fire forced the evacuation of nearly 1,700 guests; meanwhile, three people were transported to hospitals and six others received treatment on site.
Local authorities have brought the fire under control, and displaced guests have been accommodated in nearby hotels. Tourism activity around Bayahibe remains unaffected, according to the country’s Emergency Operations Center.
Italian consular officials responded to the incident, meeting with the husband of the deceased at the hospital. The embassy is helping around 285 Italian tourists staying at or near the resort, issuing emergency passports for those who lost their travel documents in the fire and arranging flights home.
The resort was filmed by Reuters drones, showing extensive smoke and flames covering multiple structures. 
Aerial shots captured the thick black smoke billowing above the beach and the surrounding coastline.
The resort manager has not commented yet on the incident. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which has 8,400 hotels worldwide, has been asked for an official statement.
