Updated
Updated · Newsday · Jun 20
Dominican Republic Resort Fire Destroys Viva Dominicus Beach, Killing 1 and Evacuating 1,690
Updated
Updated · Newsday · Jun 20

Dominican Republic Resort Fire Destroys Viva Dominicus Beach, Killing 1 and Evacuating 1,690

3 articles · Updated · Newsday · Jun 20

Summary

  • Nearly the entire Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort in Bayahibe was destroyed Friday after a fast-moving fire forced 1,690 tourists out to other hotels and nearby housing.
  • Authorities said the blaze spread rapidly because of wind and the resort’s thatched roof, while investigators were still working to determine the cause.
  • Local media reported one Italian tourist died and several others needed medical assistance during the evacuation.
  • The resort sits on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern coast, a major draw for U.S. and other international visitors, but the nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace was not damaged and remained open.

Insights

Did the resort's popular thatched-roof design create a deadly fire trap that led to a tourist's death?
After a fatal fire and plane crash, is the Dominican Republic's tourism boom masking a deeper safety crisis?
How will the $6B Wyndham hotel giant respond to safety failures at its global partner resorts?