Over 113 Dead in Santo Domingo Nightclub Roof Collapse During Concert
- Victor Nwoko
- Apr 9
- 3 min read
A devastating roof collapse at the iconic Jet Set club in Santo Domingo claimed the lives of more than 113 people and left over 255 injured during a merengue concert early Tuesday morning. The venue, popular among musicians, athletes, and government officials, was packed when dust began falling from the ceiling and into drinks, just moments before concrete slabs came crashing down on the crowd.
Among the victims was renowned merengue artist Rubby Pérez, who had been performing moments before the disaster struck. Emergency operations director Juan Manuel Méndez confirmed that rescue operations continued into Wednesday, with crews still searching for survivors over 24 hours after the collapse.
“We’re going to search tirelessly for people,” Méndez said, as rescue efforts remained ongoing.
Outside the ruins late Tuesday night, family members and friends of missing victims gathered in mourning, singing hymns around a man playing guitar. Only 32 individuals had been formally identified as of Wednesday, marking one of the deadliest tragedies in the Dominican Republic’s recent history.
Notable victims included cardiologists, public officials, and professional athletes. Among them were former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel and Dominican baseball player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, according to the country’s Professional Baseball League. Also killed was Satosky Terrero, a retired police officer, and a government architect.
The tragedy deeply affected the nation’s sporting community. Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi and sister of seven-time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, managed to alert President Luis Abinader from beneath the rubble but later died at the hospital. Musician Luis Solís, who had been playing saxophone on stage, also lost his life, along with several Venezuelan bartenders and an Army captain who leaves behind four young daughters.
Grupo Popular confirmed the deaths of three employees, including the president of AFP Popular Bank and his wife.
As authorities worked to identify more victims, countless families remained in anguish. Deysi Suriel, visiting from North Carolina, searched desperately for her friend, 61-year-old Milca Curiel. “I have been to many hospitals, and I have not found her,” she said.
Relatives crowded the National Institute of Forensic Pathology and scoured hospitals, many clutching photos of their missing loved ones. “There’s a lot of pain,” said Senator Daniel Rivera, the country’s former public health minister. “We need to have a lot of patience.”
Kimberly Jones was among the many still searching. Her 45-year-old godson, artist Osiris Blanc, frequented the Jet Set club regularly. “It was their favorite place, they went there almost every Monday,” she said, also noting that her niece remained missing.
The cause of the collapse remains unknown, and questions have arisen regarding the structural integrity of the Jet Set building and the date of its last inspection. The club released a statement confirming its cooperation with authorities.
A spokeswoman for the family that owns the venue redirected inquiries about inspections. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works referred further questions to the mayor’s office, which had yet to comment.
The nation remains in shock as investigation and recovery efforts continue.
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