In a devastating event that has rocked the Dominican Republic, a roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo has resulted in at least 113 confirmed deaths and over 150 injuries. The incident transpired just before 1:00 AM local time during an exhilarating performance by popular merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who tragically lost his life amid the chaos. Eyewitness reports tell harrowing tales of survival as rescue workers have been tirelessly searching through wreckage for those still buried underneath.
Mobile phone footage captured inside the club depicted Pérez on stage just moments before the incident. As a loud noise interrupted the performance, concertgoers captured the disarray that followed, with shouts for loved ones intertwining with the shock of falling debris. The club was filled to capacity with an estimated 500 to 1,000 attendees, many of whom were fans of the surprised concert.
Among the dead is Nelsy Cruz, the 41-year-old governor of Monte Cristi province, who called on the president while trapped and injured before later succumbing to her injuries in the hospital. Additionally, Octavio Dotel, a former Major League Baseball player, was rescued alive but died en route to medical assistance.
In the aftermath, President Luis Abinader has declared three days of national mourning as loved ones anxiously await updates about the fate of those still unaccounted for. Relatives have been gathering near the scene, holding vigils, with stories like that of Pérez's daughter, Zulinka, who narrowly escaped, resonating deeply as the nation grapples with the magnitude of this tragedy. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, with no definitive answers yet on how such a catastrophe could occur in a venue that has transitioned from cinema to concert hall.
