At least 113 killed after roof collapses at famous Dominican Republic nightclub

The roof of a famous nightclub in the Dominican capital collapsed early on Tuesday during a merengue concert attended by politicians, athletes and others, leaving at least 113 people dead and 160 injured, authorities said. Crews were searching for potential survivors in the rubble at the one-storey Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, said Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the Centre of Emergency Operations. “The death toll has risen to 113 this morning,” Mendez said. More than 24 hours after the top of the nightclub collapsed down onto patrons, rescue crews were still pulling out survivors from under the debris, shushing those around them so they could listen for faint cries for help. Firefighters removed blocks of broken concrete and sawed planks of wood to use them as planks to lift heavy debris as the noise of drills breaking through concrete filled the air. Mendez said rescue crews were prioritising three areas in the club: “We’re hearing some sounds.” Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was among the victims. She had called President Luis Abinader at 12.49am, saying she was trapped and that the roof had collapsed, first lady Raquel Abraje told reporters. Officials said Cruz died later at the hospital. “This is too great a tragedy,” Abraje said, her voice breaking. The Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic posted on X that MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, 51, also died. Officials had pulled Dotel from the debris earlier and brought him to a hospital. Also killed was Dominican baseball player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, league spokesman Satosky Terrero said. Late on Tuesday night, those still looking for their family and friends gathered around a man playing a guitar outside the club as they sang hymns. Officials said at least 160 people were injured, among them national lawmaker Bray Vargas. Relatives of merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing when the roof collapsed, initially said that he had been rescued, but Mendez said later on Tuesday that was not true. Pérez’s daughter Zulinka told reporters she had managed to escape after the roof came down, but he did not. Pérez’s manager, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, told reporters at the scene that the concert began shortly before midnight, with the roof collapsing almost an hour later, killing the group’s saxophonist. “It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner,” he said, adding that he initially thought it was an earthquake. Pérez’s former band leader Vargas said in a social media post that he was “devastated”. “The friend and idol of our genre has just left us,” he wrote. It was not immediately clear what caused the roof to collapse or when the Jet Set building was last inspected. The club issued a statement saying it was cooperating with authorities. “The loss of human life leaves us in a state of deep pain and dismay,” it said. Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos told TV station CDN that while “everyone wants to know” what happened, authorities were still focused on finding survivors. They set up a makeshift morgue near the club while more than 120 people lined up to donate blood at two different centres. Manuel Olivo Ortiz, whose son attended the concert but did not return home, was among those anxiously waiting outside the club known for its traditional Monday parties where renowned national and international artists performed. “We’re holding on only to God,” Olivo said. Also awaiting word was Massiel Cuevas, godmother of 22-year-old Darlenys Batista. “I’m waiting for her. She’s in there, I know she’s in there,” Cuevas said, firm in her belief that Batista would be pulled out alive. President Abinader wrote on social media that all rescue agencies are “working tirelessly” to help those affected. “We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred,” he wrote. Abinader arrived at the scene and hugged those looking for friends and family, some with tears streaming down their faces. “We have faith in God that we will rescue even more people alive,” he told reporters. The government also declared three days of national mourning. An official with a megaphone stood outside the club imploring the large crowd that had gathered to search for friends and relatives to give ambulances space. “You have to cooperate with authorities, please,” he said. “We are removing people.” At one hospital where the injured were taken, an official stood outside reading aloud the names of survivors as a crowd gathered around her and yelled out the names of their loved ones. Meanwhile, dozens of people gathered at the National Institute of Forensic Pathology, which projected pictures of the victims so their loved ones could identify them. Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse

At least 113 killed after roof collapses at famous Dominican Republic nightclub

Singer Rubby Pérez and baseball star Nelson Cruz’s sister Nelsy among the victims as search continues for survivors at the Jet Set venue

nproxy.org