Rescue efforts continued into early Wednesday as authorities searched for survivors following a devastating roof collapse at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic during a concert by renowned merengue singer Rubby Perez. The disaster has claimed nearly 100 lives, prompting national mourning.
The collapse occurred shortly after midnight on Tuesday, while Perez was performing at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, which was reportedly hosting between 500 and 1,000 attendees at the time. Eyewitness accounts describe a sudden blackout followed by the roof coming down. Perez’s manager confirmed the singer was among the deceased.
Family members gathered anxiously at the disaster site, hoping for news of their loved ones. “We have some friends here, a niece, a cousin, some friends, who are in the rubble,” said Rodolfo Espinal, waiting for updates.
Rescue teams, comprising about 370 personnel, sifted through debris, including bricks, steel bars, and tin sheets, looking for survivors. Unfortunately, by Wednesday morning, the preliminary death toll had reached 98, with no additional survivors found since Tuesday afternoon, according to Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the Emergency Operations Center.
Among the notable casualties were former Major League Baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco. Dotel, who was rescued alive but succumbed to his injuries, received tributes from the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League and was honored during a New York Mets game.
Eyewitness Iris Pena recounted her escape, describing how dirt began to fall and a stone struck their table. “The impact was so strong, as if it had been a tsunami or an earthquake,” she said.
The tragedy has drawn widespread attention, with President Luis Abinader declaring three days of national mourning. Artists and colleagues have expressed their sorrow on social media, mourning the loss of Perez, who was celebrated for his contributions to music.
The Jet Set club, operational for over 50 years, had promoted the concert as a chance to enjoy Perez’s greatest hits just days before the incident. In a statement, the club pledged to cooperate fully with authorities in the investigation.
This incident marks one of the most significant tragedies to strike the Caribbean nation in recent years, following other calamities, including a deadly explosion in 2023 and a 2005 prison fire that resulted in over 130 fatalities. As the nation grapples with this loss, the call for blood donations highlights the community’s efforts to support those affected.
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