A roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has resulted in a tragic death toll that reached 218, as confirmed by officials on Thursday. The incident, which occurred during a concert on Tuesday night, has left the community devastated, with hopes of finding additional survivors now extinguished.
Juan Manuel Méndez, the director of the emergency operations center, reported that emergency services have exhausted all possibilities of locating anyone alive beneath the debris. With the nightclub's capacity estimated between 700 to 1,000 people, authorities are investigating ticket sales to determine how many individuals were present at the time of the collapse. So far, 189 people were successfully rescued.
The shift in rescue efforts to a recovery operation was confirmed by government officials, emphasizing their commitment to continue searching for bodies amidst the rubble. "We are not abandoning anybody," Méndez assured. The tragic collapse has affected many, including high-profile individuals such as a governor, members of a banking family, and former Major League Baseball players. Among the recovered victims was Rubby Pérez, a merengue artist performing during the collapse.
The Jet Set nightclub, a popular venue in Santo Domingo known for its bustling Monday night scene, has been integral to the social fabric of the city, attracting both elite members of society and the general public. As the investigation progresses, the community mourns and seeks answers in the aftermath of this heartbreaking disaster.
