Fire hits Dominican Republic resort in Bayahibe, close to 1,700 safely evacuated
A massive fire at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach resort in Bayahibe over the weekend forced the evacuation of 1,690 guests, employees and contractors. There was one fatality and emergency services reports that three people were taken to medical facilities and six were treated on site.
Dominican Republic authorities and the hotel team responded immediately activated emergency protocols.
At the time of the fire, the resort was operating at approximately 84% occupancy and, thanks to the rapid implementation of established protocols, an orderly, effective and safe evacuation was carried out, with the protection and well-being of all individuals remaining the top priority throughout the process.
Authorities confirmed that the event was an isolated incident within a hotel property and that all tourism destinations across the Dominican Republic continue to operate normally, including hotels, airports, attractions and tourism services. Operations in Bayahibe, La Romana, Punta Cana, Samaná, Puerto Plata and the country’s other tourism hubs remain fully active, offering visitors a safe, high-quality experience consistent with the destination’s usual standards.
Emergency response agencies and tourism authorities continue to support relocated guests, providing the necessary assistance and resources to ensure their well-being during this process.
The hotel team’s implementation of emergency response plans enabled a rapid and coordinated reaction to the situation. This effort was supported by the Emergency Operations Center (COE), the Fire Department, Civil Defense, the National Police, the Ministry of Tourism and local authorities, demonstrating effective collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Juan Manuel Méndez, Director of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), said that: “From the very beginning, emergency response mechanisms were activated to protect human lives. Effective coordination among authorities, emergency responders and hotel staff made it possible to safely evacuate 1,690 people, demonstrating the Dominican Republic’s preparedness and response capabilities in situations of this nature.”
