NewsWorld newsDominican RepublicAn Italian tourist has died and almost 1,700 tourists have been evacuated after a large fire tore through a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic on Friday08:17, 20 Jun 2026Updated 08:38, 20 Jun 2026An Italian tourist has died and almost 1,700 tourists have been evacuated after a large fire tore through a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic.‌The blaze broke out at the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham in Bayahibe on Friday. The resort, located on the Caribbean. country's southeastern coast, is a popular destination for US and international tourists.‌Authorities said Francesca Valentino, 46, died in the fire and around 1,690 tourists had to be evacuated from the resort to other hotels and nearby housing facilities because of the massive blaze.‌The Dominican Republic's Emergency Operations Centre said it appeared the "fire spread rapidly" due to wind and because part of the resort’s roof was made of thatch. The fire has since been brought under control, with the investigation into its cause continuing.Video shared by local media showed flames engulfing large sections of the resort, including its thatched roof, and thick smoke billowing over coastline.Article continues belowViva Wyndham’s other nearby resort, the Dominicus Palace, was not damaged by the fire and was operating as normal, the centre said.The Dominican Republic is the Caribbean's most visited tourist destination, attracting more than 1.6 million international visitors in 2025, according to official data.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Breaking NewsFireDominican Republic