Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – At least 44 people were killed by 160 others injured in the Dominican capital early on Tuesday when the roof collapsed at the iconic nightclub in which politicians, athletes and others attended the merengue concert.
The crews sought potential survivors in the ruins at Jet-Story’s nightclub in Santo Domingo, said Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Center.
“We assume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities will not give up here until no person stays under these ruins,” he said.
Almost 12 hours after the top of the nightclub crashed on patrons, the rescue crew still pulled out the survivors from the debris. On the scene, the firefighters removed the blocks of broken concrete and the sawboard of wood to use them as boards to raise heavy debris as the noise drilled through the concrete full of air.
The confirmed number of deaths reached 44, Méndez said in the early afternoon. Earlier officials said that at least 160 people were injured.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecar and the sisters of the seven-time Main League baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was among the victims. She called President Luis Abinader at 12:49, I say that he was captured and that the roof crashed, the first lady of Raquel Abraja told reporters. Officials said Cruz died later in the hospital.
“This is too much tragedy,” Abraje said in a broken voice.
Meanwhile, the injured turns on the former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, Laws of Bray Vargas and Merangue Singer Rubby Pérez, who performed when the roof crashed, the roof said.
His manager, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spraying, told reporters at the scene that the concert started a little before midnight, for almost an hour, killing the saxophonist group.
“It happened so fast. I managed to throw in the corner,” he said, adding that he initially thought it was an earthquake.
It was not immediately clear what caused the roof to crash.
Jet issued a statement that says she has worked with the authorities. “The loss of human life leaves us in a state of deep pain and disgust,” said.
Manuel Olivo Ortiz, whose son attended the concert, but he did not return home, was among them who were eagerly waiting outside the club known on Monday in which the renowned national and international artists are held.
“We only hold for God,” Olivo said.
Also waiting for the word was Massiel Cuevas, Godfather 22-year-old Darlenys Batista.
“I’m waiting for her. That’s, I know he’s there,” Cuevas said, sturdy in her belief that Batista would be drawn alive.
President Aninader wrote to X that all rescue agencies “work tirelessly” to help those affected.
“We deeply regret the tragedy on the nightclub Jet Set. We followed the incident minute in a minute because it appeared,” he wrote.
Aninader arrived on the scene and hugged those looking for friends and family, and some with tears stressed down their faces.
“We have faith in God that we will save even more people alive,” he told reporters.
The official with megaphone stood out of the club that implies a large crowd that gathered to seek friends and relatives to give ambulances.
“You have to work with the authorities, please,” he said. “We remove people.”
In a hospital in which they were injured were taken away, the official stood out of story reading aloud that the names of the survivors gathered around her and shouted the names of their loved ones.
Meanwhile, dozens of people gathered at the National Institute for Forensic Pathology, which projected pictures of victims, so their loved ones can identify them.
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Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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2025-04-08 17:51:00
