Dominican Republic: 124 Dead – Battle with time give rescuers to the ruins of the club
Hundreds of rescuers fight over time in the debris of the Jet Set club in the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo.
According to the latest report, at least 124 people were killed and more than 150 were injured in the tragic incident at 01:00 local time on Tuesday, according to officials cited by the BBC.
Emergency business leader Juan Manuel Mentes estimated that his team had « 24 to 36 hours » to try to find survivors under the ruins.
Hundreds of people were in the popular venue and watched a concert of Merengue singer Rubi Peres.
Peres, the former players of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, as well as a provincial ruler, Nelsi Cruz, are among the dead.
See related posts for Dotel and Blanco:
We are Deeply Saddened by the Sudden and Tragic Death of Former Major Leaguer Tony Blanco in Tuesday’s Tragedy in the Dominican Republic’s Capital City of Santo Domingo.
Blanco Played in 56 Games for the Inaugural Washington Nationals Team in 2005, Including the First Game in… pic.twitter.com/14bwixy7os
– mlb (@Mlb) April 8, 2025
The Yankees Mourn The Passing of Former Yankees Pitcher Octavio Dotel and Extend Our Deepest Condolens to Octavio’s Family, Friends and Loved One.
Our Hearts are with all Those Impacted by the Tragedy in the Dominican Republic pic.twitter.com/9vo8fg5Lrn
– New York Yankees (@yankees) April 8, 2025
‘Something fell off the ceiling’
Shots of mobile phone recorded in the club, which have been verified by the BBC, show Peres on stage singing, while the man who is filmed sounds to speak.
« Something fell from the ceiling, » says the man who records the shots, and seems to be pointing to the roof with his finger.
The footage seems to be that Peres is looking at the area that the man has pointed out.
Less than 30 seconds later, there is a noise, falls black in the video, and a woman heard shouting « Dad, what happened to you? »
See related video:
Video – Death Toll from Nightclub Roof Collapse in Dominican Republic’s Capital Rises to 98 AS Rescuers Worked Through Night in Desperate Search for More Survivors pic.twitter.com/9kvyr8th
– Daily Sabah (@dailysabah) April 9, 2025
Unknown how many were in the club
It is not clear how many people were in the popular clubs, but estimates range between 500 and 1,000 people.
Emergency workers demolished one of the walls of the club to more easily approach those who are still buried under the ruins.
Relatives are desperately awaiting news for their missing loved ones, and they have not left the point of the accident.
Among those in the club was the daughter of Peres, Zulinka, who is a second singer in the Merengue band.
She described how she was on stage and sang with her father when the tragedy unfolded.
Zulinka said that her husband rescued her, who protected her with his body when the roof collapsed, telling her that she had to go out « to be there for our son ».
Eventually, she and her husband managed to draw out the ruins and are alive.
Anxiety for the missing after the collapse of the Club roof in Santo Domingo.
Trapped for hours Peres before he dies – he started singing to hear him
Her 69 -year -old father, however, remained trapped for hours, Zulinka Peres added.
According to her, Peres survived the collapse and managed to guide rescue workers to where he was.
« They found him singing, he started singing to hear him, » Zulinka told local media.
However, around 17:00 local time, more than 16 hours after the tragedy, Zulinka was informed by the rescuers to the point that her father had died before they could release him.
Later, his manager also confirmed his death.
See relevant post:
Desde discos Fuentes Lamentamos Profundamente La Partida de Rubby Pérez, Una Gran Figura del Merengue.
Nos unimos al dolor de su Su Familia, Amigos y de todos Sus fanáticos Que Hoy Lo Despiden Con El Corazón en la mano.
Fuimos Testigos de Cómo Rubby dejó una huella imborrable con su… pic.twitter.com/if5wpq7cbr
– Discos Fuentes (@Discosfuentes) April 8, 2025
The commander of the province who eventually died had called directly to the President of the Dominican Republic
The 41 -year -old governor of Monte Christi province, Nelsi Cruz, initially survived after the collapse of the roof and was one of the first to an alarm, calling directly to the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinander.
Immediately after she made a phone call to the president, Nelsi Cruz phoned her brother, seven-time all-star Major League Baseball Nelson Cruz, their father said.
However, Cruise then succumbed to her injuries to the hospital where she was taken.
Unknown the causes of the roof fall by now
It is not yet clear what caused the collapse of the jet set of the club.
The club was previously a cinema and had been transformed into a music venue that regularly hosted dance music concerts on Monday nights.
The concerts attracted people of all ages and on the day of the collapse many athletes, celebrities and politicians were present.
President Abinander proclaimed a three -day national mourning in the Dominican Republic.
