Photo Credit: National Police of the Dominican Republic
At least 44 people have died while over 100 were being treated for injuries after a roof collapsed at a Dominican Republic nightclub.
Rescue crews have been searching for potential survivors in the rubble at the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo after a roof collapsed, killing at least 44 people. More than 100 others have been treated for injuries. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the roof collapse.
“We presume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities here will not give up until not a single person remains under that rubble,” said Juan Manuel Méndez, Director of the Center of Emergency Operations in the Dominican Republic capitol. He added that teams were still working to determine the total number of people present at the scene at the time of the incident.
President Luis 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.
Among the victims was Nelsy Cruz, governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi and sister of Major League Baseball star Nelson Cruz. She called President Abinader at 12:49 AM on Tuesday, saying she was trapped and the roof had collapsed. Cruz later died at the hospital.
“This is too great a tragedy,” said First Lady Raquel Abraje, who first reported Cruz’s call to the president.
Injured individuals include former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel and legislator Bray Vargas. Merengue singer Rubby Pérez was performing when the roof collapsed, and his daughter said he was believed to be trapped in the rubble.
Pérez’s manager, Enrique Paulino, told reporters at the scene that the concert began shortly after midnight. The roof collapsed almost an hour later, killing the group’s saxophonist. “It was sudden. I thought it was an earthquake, so I threw myself to the ground and covered my head,” he said. “We tried to get to the area where Rubby was, but there was too much debris there.”
Manuel Olivo Ortiz, whose son attended the concert but did not return home, was among those anxiously awaiting outside the club for news. “We’re holding on only to God,” he said.
Massiel Cuevas, godmother of 22-year-old Darlenys Batista, was also awaiting word outside the club. “I’m waiting for her. She’s in there, I know she’s in there,” said Cuevas, who believes Batista will be pulled out alive.
News of this night club roof collapse follows two deaths at a Mexico City festival due to a crane collapsing in high winds.
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