In the early hours of Tuesday morning, chaos erupted at Santo Domingo's Jet Set nightclub when the ceiling collapsed, resulting in the death of at least 221 people, including beloved merengue singer Rubby Pérez. Carwin Javie Molleja, who had been enjoying a long-awaited reunion with his mother, Carmin, was dancing when pieces of the ceiling began to fall. Unfazed initially, Carwin reflected, "No-one thought that because a small stone fell the entire roof was going to collapse."
Moments later, the reality of the situation hit as he heard the terrifying sounds of screams and the ceiling crashing down around them. The duo was struck by debris but managed to escape through a door amidst panic. Yet, the unfolding horror was far from over—Carwin mistakenly thought his friends were still inside and ventured back into the collapsing building to find them.
Inside, he called out for his friend Jessica but was met with silence, and the experience left him feeling utterly helpless as chaos engulfed the venue. Emergency services promptly arrived on scene, but Carwin noted a lack of machinery to assist in immediate rescue efforts. After a frantic hour of searching and helplessly shouting his friend's name, Carwin had to take his mother home, who was in distress, unaware that Jessica would later be found among the dead.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Carwin expressed deep regret over his inability to help his friend, stating, "It was horrible not being able to help her. I yelled her name, but she didn't answer." His story amidst a backdrop of sorrow serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of life, especially during moments meant for joy.
