A devastating roof collapse at the iconic Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican capital during a merengue concert has left at least 79 people dead and 160 injured, authorities confirmed late Tuesday. The incident occurred just after midnight and has plunged the nation into mourning.
The concert, attended by well-known public figures including athletes, politicians, and performers, turned catastrophic when the roof of the one-story venue collapsed onto hundreds of patrons. Search and rescue operations have continued for over 12 hours as crews comb through debris, with officials prioritizing areas where sounds have been detected, signaling potential survivors still trapped.
“We’re going to search tirelessly for people,” said Juan Manuel Méndez, Director of the Center of Emergency Operations. “We are still hearing some sounds.”
Among the deceased are Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and sister of former MLB star Nelson Cruz, as well as former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, and Dominican baseball player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera. The nation’s merengue community is also in mourning as efforts continue to locate Rubby Pérez, the performer at the time of the collapse, who is still unaccounted for.
Also injured was national lawmaker Bray Vargas, and over 120 people have lined up at blood donation centers to assist in the emergency response.
Initial reports suggest the collapse happened suddenly, about an hour into the concert. Rubby Pérez’s manager, Enrique Paulino, who survived with minor injuries, described the scene as “chaotic” and initially believed the event to be an earthquake. “It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner,” he said.
The cause of the collapse is still under investigation. It is not yet clear when the building was last inspected. The club’s owner, Antonio Espaillat, returned to the country late Tuesday and pledged full cooperation with authorities. “There are no words to express the pain this event has caused,” he stated.
President Luis Abinader, who has been monitoring the tragedy “minute by minute,” visited the scene, comforting families and offering reassurances.
“We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub,” he posted on X. “We have faith in God that we will rescue even more people alive.”
The Ministry of Public Works and the Mayor’s Office have yet to release detailed statements about regulatory oversight or previous inspections of the building. Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos urged patience, saying the focus remains on saving lives before launching a full investigation.
Outside the club and hospitals, family members stood vigil, waiting for news of loved ones. Makeshift morgues have been set up, and photos of the deceased have been posted by the National Institute of Forensic Pathology to assist in identification.
This marks one of the deadliest nightclub disasters in the Caribbean in recent memory and has sent shockwaves across the Dominican Republic and the global Latino music community.