Rescue employees carry an individual pulled from the wreckage of the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed throughout a merengue live performance in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
Ricardo Hernandez/AP
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Ricardo Hernandez/AP
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The roof of an iconic nightclub within the Dominican capital collapsed early Tuesday throughout a merengue live performance attended by politicians, athletes and others, leaving no less than 98 individuals lifeless and 160 injured, authorities mentioned.
Crews had been looking for potential survivors within the rubble on the one-story Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, mentioned Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Middle of Emergency Operations.
“We proceed clearing particles and looking for individuals,” he mentioned on Tuesday evening. “We’ll search tirelessly for individuals.”
Practically 12 hours after the highest of the nightclub collapsed onto patrons, rescue crews had been nonetheless pulling out survivors from underneath the particles, shushing these round them so they might pay attention for faint cries for assist. Firefighters eliminated blocks of damaged concrete and used sawed items of wooden as planks to carry heavy particles because the noise of drills breaking by concrete crammed the air.
Méndez mentioned rescue crews had been prioritizing three areas within the membership: “We’re listening to some sounds.”
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi and sister of seven-time Main League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was among the many victims. She had known as President Luis Abinader at 12:49 a.m., saying she was trapped and that the roof had collapsed, first woman Raquel Abraje instructed reporters. Officers mentioned Cruz died later on the hospital.
“That is too nice a tragedy,” Abraje mentioned, her voice breaking.
The Skilled Baseball League of the Dominican Republic posted on X that former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, 51, additionally died. Officers had pulled Dotel from the particles earlier and introduced him to a hospital. Additionally killed was Dominican baseball participant Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, mentioned league spokesman Satosky Terrero.
Late Tuesday evening, these nonetheless in search of their household and associates gathered round a person taking part in a guitar outdoors the membership as they sang hymns.
Officers mentioned no less than 160 individuals had been injured, amongst them nationwide lawmaker Bray Vargas.
Family of merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing when the roof collapsed, initially mentioned that he had been rescued, however Méndez mentioned later Tuesday that wasn’t true. He mentioned rescue crews had been nonetheless in search of Pérez.
Pérez’s supervisor, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, instructed reporters on the scene that the live performance started shortly earlier than midnight, with the roof collapsing nearly an hour later, killing the group’s saxophonist.
“It occurred so rapidly. I managed to throw myself right into a nook,” he mentioned, including that he initially thought it was an earthquake.
It wasn’t instantly clear what induced the roof to break down or when the Jet Set constructing was final inspected.
The membership issued an announcement saying it was cooperating with authorities and famous that the proprietor, Antonio Espaillat, was overseas and returned late Tuesday.
“There aren’t any phrases to specific the ache this occasion has induced. What occurred has been devastating for everybody,” he mentioned.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Public Works referred inquiries to the mayor’s workplace. A spokesperson for the mayor’s workplace didn’t reply to a message for remark.
Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos instructed TV station CDN that whereas “everybody desires to know” what occurred, authorities had been nonetheless centered on discovering survivors. They arrange a makeshift morgue close to the membership whereas greater than 120 individuals lined as much as donate blood at two completely different facilities.
Manuel Olivo Ortiz, whose son attended the live performance however didn’t return house, was amongst these anxiously ready outdoors the membership identified for its conventional Monday events the place famend nationwide and worldwide artists carried out.
“We’re holding on solely to God,” Olivo mentioned.
Additionally awaiting phrase was Massiel Cuevas, godmother of 22-year-old Darlenys Batista.
“I am ready for her. She’s in there, I do know she’s in there,” Cuevas mentioned, agency in her perception that Batista could be pulled out alive.
President Abinader wrote on X that every one rescue businesses are “working tirelessly” to assist these affected.
“We deeply remorse the tragedy that occurred on the Jet Set nightclub. We’ve been following the incident minute by minute because it occurred,” he wrote.
Abinader arrived on the scene and hugged these in search of family and friends, some with tears streaming down their faces. “We place confidence in God that we’ll rescue much more individuals alive,” he instructed reporters.
An official with a megaphone stood outdoors the membership imploring the big crowd that had gathered to seek for associates and relations to provide ambulances area.
“You need to cooperate with authorities, please,” he mentioned. “We’re eradicating individuals.”
At one hospital the place the injured had been taken, an official stood outdoors studying aloud the names of survivors as a crowd gathered round her and yelled out the names of their family members.
In the meantime, dozens of individuals gathered on the Nationwide Institute of Forensic Pathology, which shared photos of the victims so their family members may establish them.
