Jakarta Aktual – 20 June 2026 | A massive fire broke out at the Viva Dominicus Beach resort in La Altagracia province, Dominican Republic, leaving at least one tourist dead and an unknown number of injuries.
The fire, which occurred on Friday, was brought under control by 15 firefighting units and is currently under investigation. Preliminary observations suggest that the fire spread rapidly due to the flammable nature of parts of the roof structures made of palm, as well as wind conditions.
A 46-year-old female tourist from Italy, Francesca Valentino, died in the fire, according to the Dominican Republic Foreign Ministry. The total number of injuries remains unclear, but three people were taken to medical facilities and six others were treated at the scene.
The Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel, which has nearly 700 rooms, was operating in partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. The nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, also part of the chain, did not sustain any damage.
Tourist activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area remain unaffected and continue to take place safely and as normal, the country’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) said.
The Dominican Republic is the Caribbean’s top tourist destination, attracting about 5.6 million visitors in the first five months of this year.
The resort fire in the Dominican Republic is a devastating incident that highlights the importance of fire safety and emergency preparedness in tourist areas.
It is essential for resorts and hotels to ensure that their buildings and facilities meet strict safety standards and that emergency response plans are in place to minimize the risk of such incidents.
