Dominican Republic Reels as Nightclub Roof Collapse Claims 184 Lives, Hope for Survivors Fades

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic is in mourning following a catastrophic roof collapse at the renowned Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo. As of Thursday, the death toll has climbed to 184, leaving rescue crews with fading hope of finding any more survivors. The tragic event has plunged the capital city into chaos, with distraught families desperately seeking information about their loved ones.

Key Points:

• Tragedy Strikes: The roof of the Jet Set nightclub collapsed during a merengue concert, resulting in a massive loss of life and leaving over 200 injured.
• Search Efforts Continue: Despite the grim outlook, rescue teams persist in their search for victims and potential survivors, although no one has been found alive since Tuesday afternoon.
• Families in Despair: Dozens of people are growing increasingly frustrated as they struggle to obtain information about their missing relatives, visiting hospitals and forensic institutes in vain.
• Critical Injuries: Doctors warn that many of the hospitalized victims are in critical condition, suffering from severe injuries such as skull fractures, femur fractures, and pelvic fractures caused by falling cement slabs.
• Investigation Launched: The government has announced a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse, which will commence once the recovery phase is complete.

Notable Victims:

The collapse claimed the lives of several prominent figures, including:

• Merengue icon Rubby Pérez, who was performing at the time of the incident.
• Former MLB players Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera.
• Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province.
• Various professionals and government officials.

Response Efforts:

Randolfo Rijo Gómez, director of the country’s 911 system, reported that authorities responded swiftly to the disaster, with police arriving at the scene within 90 seconds. First response units, soldiers, fire brigades, and ambulances were quickly mobilized to aid in the rescue efforts. Crews utilized dogs and thermal cameras to locate victims, managing to rescue 145 survivors from the wreckage.

Unanswered Questions:

The cause of the roof collapse remains unclear, and questions linger regarding the building's inspection history. While the Jet Set nightclub has pledged cooperation with authorities, spokespersons for the Ministry of Public Works and the mayor’s office have yet to provide comments on the matter.

As the Dominican Republic grapples with this devastating tragedy, the focus remains on supporting the affected families and uncovering the truth behind the collapse to prevent similar incidents in the future.