Rescuers hurried to locate survivors on Tuesday amidst the debris of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic, where at least 44 individuals lost their lives and over 150 sustained injuries following an early morning roof collapse.
Approximately 400 rescue workers searched through the wreckage as trapped individuals called out for assistance from the ruins of what was known as the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Caribbean nation.
Numerous ambulances were dispatched to the scene to transport the injured to medical facilities.
Crowds gathered nearby, anxiously seeking information about their missing relatives, which included the well-known Dominican merengue artist Rubby Perez. At 69 years old, Perez was performing on stage when a sudden blackout occurred, leading to the roof’s collapse, per eyewitness accounts.
Reports from local media indicated that between 500 and 1,000 patrons were present in the club at the moment of the catastrophe.
Among the deceased was the governor of the Monte Cristi municipality, Nelsy Cruz, who passed away in the hospital, as confirmed by President Luis Abinader.
He noted that ambulances have completed 134 trips to hospitals, translating to approximately 150 or 160 patients.
Aerial views from helicopters showed a significant gap where the club’s roof used to be. A construction crane was utilized to help remove some of the heavier debris while workers in hard hats sifted through the wreckage. Officials have made a public appeal for Dominicans to donate blood.
On Tuesday, the nightclub released a statement affirming it had “fully and transparently collaborated with the authorities to assist the victims and investigate the incident.”
According to data from the tourism ministry, in 2024, the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, received over 11 million visitors.
Tourism contributes around 15 percent to the GDP, with visitors drawn to Santo Domingo’s Caribbean shorelines, vibrant music and nightlife, and colonial architecture.
