A catastrophic roof collapse at a packed nightclub in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, has left at least 184 people dead, authorities confirmed late Wednesday. Rescue efforts are now shifting from a search for survivors to the grim task of recovering bodies.
The collapse occurred late Tuesday at the Jet Set nightclub, a popular venue in the city. Since then, desperate families have gathered near the wreckage, clinging to hope while sharing photos and descriptions of missing loved ones with police.
“We are not going to abandon anybody,” said Juan Manuel Mendez, head of the country’s emergency operations center, at a press conference. He added that rescue operations would continue until every body is found, though the likelihood of finding survivors had dwindled. No one has been pulled out alive in more than 24 hours.
Presidential spokesperson Homero Figueroa confirmed that the operation would soon transition from rescue to recovery, signaling a shift in focus as time runs out for any remaining survivors.
Among those searching the site was Alex de Leon, who was looking for his ex-wife—the mother of his two children—and a close friend. “Unfortunately, I have no information about where they are,” he said. “My 15-year-old son is devastated, and the younger one, just 9, is staying calm because we told him his mom is at work.”
Relatives of the missing held up photos and described the clothing their loved ones were wearing at the time of the tragedy, hoping it would help with identification as recovery efforts continue.
Authorities reported that 155 people had been pulled from the rubble and transported to hospitals, but the total number of attendees inside the club at the time remains unknown.
From Celebration to Tragedy
The disaster struck during a live concert by renowned Dominican merengue singer Rubby Perez. The event had attracted high-profile guests, including athletes, politicians, and celebrities. But just after midnight, the roof collapsed, plunging the celebration into chaos.
Perez was among the victims. The Dominican Ministry of Culture announced a tribute in his honor, calling him “one of the great figures of the country’s artistic and merengue heritage.”
Funerals for the victims have already begun. President Luis Abinader attended the funeral of Nelsy Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of former MLB star Nelson Cruz. “We are left to mourn her and the other victims,” Abinader said during the service.
Among the other high-profile victims were former Major League Baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, both of whom were in attendance at the ill-fated concert.
As the country mourns, flags fly at half-mast and tributes pour in for the lives lost in one of the worst peacetime tragedies in the Dominican Republic’s recent history.
