Nightclub Collapse in Dominican Republic

The Jet Set club is a popular venue in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Image by editor.

Incident Overview

At least 15 people have died after the roof of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic collapsed.

Many others were hurt. Rescue workers are still trying to free people trapped under the rubble.

Cause and Response

The collapse happened early Tuesday morning during a concert by Rubby Pérez, a popular merengue singer. The event was held at the Jet Set discotheque in Santo Domingo, the capital city.

The president, Luis Abinader, sent his condolences to the families of the victims.

Juan Manuel Méndez, who leads the Emergency Operations Centre (COE), said that rescue teams were still searching the debris. He also said that ambulances had taken people to hospitals more than 100 times. Some trips carried more than one person. The full number of injuries is still unknown.

Rescue Efforts and Casualties

So far, officials say 15 people have died.

Mr Méndez said he was still hopeful that some people trapped might be alive.

Club Description and Incident Details

Jet Set is a well-known club in Santo Domingo. It often hosts dance music shows on Monday nights.

Video taken inside the club shows people sitting at tables and others dancing while Rubby Pérez sings.

Another phone video shared on social media shows a man near the stage pointing up and saying “something fell from the ceiling.” Rubby Pérez also seems to look in that direction.

Less than 30 seconds later, a loud noise is heard, the screen goes dark, and a woman shouts, “Dad, what’s happened to you?”

One of Rubby Pérez’s band members told the local press the club was full when the collapse happened around 1 a.m.

The band member said, “I thought it was an earthquake.”

Conclusion

The collapse of the nightclub roof in the Dominican Republic has resulted in a significant loss of life and many injuries. The incident is a tragic reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and structural integrity of public venues. As the rescue efforts continue, the thoughts of many are with the families of the victims and those affected by this devastating event.