At least 98 people have lost their lives and more than 150 have been injured following the collapse of a nightclub roof in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, according to officials.
Among the victims were provincial governor Nelsy Cruz and former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel. Dotel, 51, reportedly died en route to the hospital after being pulled from the rubble. Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi province, was also confirmed dead by President Luis Abinader. She was the sister of retired MLB star Nelson Cruz.
The collapse occurred during the early hours of Tuesday during a concert by renowned merengue artist Rubby Pérez at the Jet Set nightclub. Pérez was also among those killed, according to his manager.
The venue was packed with hundreds of attendees, and rescue teams—numbering around 400 personnel—continue to search for survivors. Authorities fear the death toll could climb higher as the search continues.
Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Centre (COE), expressed hope that some of those trapped beneath the debris may still be alive.
Jet Set is a well-known nightclub in the capital, particularly famous for hosting Monday night dance music events. The audience that night included celebrities, athletes, and political figures.
Dotel had a notable baseball career, debuting with the New York Mets in 1999 and playing for several teams including the Houston Astros, Oakland A’s, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Detroit Tigers before retiring in 2013.
Footage from inside the nightclub shows patrons enjoying the music, seated near the stage or dancing, moments before the collapse. In a mobile phone recording shared online, a man near the stage is heard saying “something fell from the ceiling” and points toward the roof. Rubby Pérez appears to notice the same area. Seconds later, a loud crash is heard and the screen goes black, followed by a woman’s voice crying out, “Dad, what’s happened to you?”
A member of Pérez’s band told local media the nightclub was at full capacity when the incident occurred around 1 a.m. “I thought it was an earthquake,” he said.
Pérez’s daughter confirmed her father was among those trapped in the wreckage.
President Abinader has extended his condolences to the victims’ families, calling the tragedy heartbreaking for the nation.
