Rescue teams are looking for people trapped under the collapsed roof of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, where a merengue concert was taking place. AP
A nightclub in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, collapsed during the early hours of Tuesday. At least 79 people lost their lives, and more than 150 got injured in the tragic incident. The collapse happened during a concert by merengue singer Rubby Pérez at the famous Jet Set nightclub.
Hundreds of people had gathered inside the club for the performance. Everything seemed normal until parts of the roof suddenly gave way. People screamed, ran, and tried to escape. The whole place turned into chaos in seconds. Videos taken by those inside showed people dancing and enjoying the night right before the collapse.
One man in a video pointed to the ceiling, saying something had fallen. Just a few seconds later, the screen went black, and a woman was heard screaming for her father. Moments of joy turned into fear and panic.
Among those killed was Octavio Dotel, a former Major League Baseball player. He was 51 and had played for several U.S. teams, including the New York Mets and Houston Astros. He was pulled from the rubble but died on the way to the hospital.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province, also died in the collapse. She was the sister of well-known baseball player Nelson Cruz. Her death added to the heartbreak, as she had a strong connection to both politics and sports in the country.
President Luis Abinader shared his sorrow and offered support to the families of the victims. He mentioned the names of some of those who died and asked the country to pray for the injured.
Emergency teams rushed to the scene right after the collapse. Around 400 rescue workers are still working to find more people trapped under the debris. The head of the Emergency Operations Centre, Juan Manuel Méndez, said he remains hopeful that more survivors will be found.
Rubby Pérez, the singer performing at the time, was also caught in the collapse. His daughter confirmed that he was among those trapped but did not give any further update on his condition. One of his band members told local media that it happened around 1 a.m. and that he thought it was an earthquake.
The Jet Set nightclub is popular in the city. It often hosts big shows on Monday nights and attracts many celebrities, politicians, and athletes. On that night, many important figures were in the crowd.
Families and friends of the victims gathered outside the club, crying and hugging one another. They waited for news, hoping their loved ones had survived.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are trying to find out what caused the roof to collapse. For now, the focus remains on saving lives and supporting those who are grieving.
