A huge fire broke out at a popular tourist resort in the Dominican Republic that sent panicked families running for their lives.

Shocking footage showed smoke billowing from a section of the Viva Dominicus Bayahibe resort in La Altagracia on Friday. 

Emergency services raced to the tourist hotspot, which is operated by Wyndham Resorts, as the fires grew out of control. 

No injuries had been reported at the time of writing, with authorities saying fire crews were deployed quickly to contain the flames. 

Authorities said they were working to contain the flames to the area, fearing it could spread to nearby structures in the resort, reports Dominican Today. 

One witness said on social media that firefighters were struggling to extinguish the fires, writing: 'Although fire trucks are already on the scene, the magnitude of the blaze exceeds the available equipment and greater support is required with higher-impact units to fully extinguish it.' 

The resort is a popular destination for American tourists, who often share picturesque tropical photos of their trips to the island across social media.  

The cause of the fires is not yet clear.