Tourist killed and 1,700 evacuated in Dominican Republic luxury resort fire

A major fire broke out at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach resort in Bayahibe, on the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic. One Italian tourist was killed and about 1,700 guests and staff were evacuated from the property. The blaze came at the peak of the Caribbean hotel season.

Local firefighters worked for hours to bring the flames under control, with the seafront location also requiring helicopter support. Resort management said the cause was likely linked to the electrical system but added that the exact origin would only be confirmed after a technical assessment. Displaced guests were relocated to other hotels in the area.

Italy's foreign ministry issued an official statement of condolence over the death of its citizen and said it was in contact with the Dominican authorities. European tour operators reached out to affected customers, and some flight schedules were adjusted. Preliminary findings from the investigation are expected in the coming days. The Caribbean holiday industry is under pressure to review safety standards after a series of recent hotel incidents.