Frustration and despair gripped families in the Dominican Republic on Friday as they awaited the identification of loved ones among the 222 victims of a nightclub roof collapse. Relatives gathered at the forensic morgue in Santo Domingo, where the Jet Set club’s roof caved in during a performance by merengue singer Rubby Perez early Tuesday.
While Perez was honored at a ceremony attended by President Luis Abinader, many families, like Yuni Garcia, who lost her brother, are struggling with the wait. “The wait for the bodies is exasperating,” she said.
Initial reports indicated 221 fatalities, with 189 people rescued from the wreckage. Tragically, a woman injured in the collapse later died, raising the death toll. Aerial footage showed the devastation, resembling an earthquake’s aftermath.
Esperanza Dominguez, another relative, expressed her anguish at not finding her missing relative among the deceased. “I am worn out… I am going crazy,” she said. Authorities have pledged to identify all victims, with 191 autopsies completed by Friday.
However, some families reported errors in identification. Julio Alberto Acosta, who lost his stepdaughter, recounted receiving the wrong body. The victims included individuals from various nationalities, prompting condolences from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
To assist with the identification process, additional forensic pathologists have been brought in. The government has extended the national mourning period and formed a special commission to investigate the disaster. Rescuers have shifted focus from searching for survivors to recovering the deceased as the nation seeks answers and closure.
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