Dominican Republic Rocked by Nightclub Tragedy: Roof Collapse Claims Over 200 Lives
The Dominican Republic is in mourning after a devastating nightclub roof collapse claimed the lives of over 200 people. The tragedy occurred early Tuesday morning at the popular Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, sending shockwaves throughout the nation.
Key Points:
- Over 200 Confirmed Dead: The death toll has risen to 218, with fears it may climb further as recovery efforts continue.
- Rescue Efforts Concluded: Authorities have shifted from search and rescue to recovering the deceased, acknowledging that the possibility of finding more survivors is extremely low.
- National Mourning: The Dominican Republic has declared three days of national mourning to honor the victims.
- Investigation Underway: The cause of the collapse is currently under investigation, with questions arising about the structural integrity of the 50-year-old building.
- Victims Identified: Identification of the deceased is underway, with many of the bodies recovered overnight being female.
Snayder Santana, an engineer with the Dominican Republic civil protection services, stated that the removal of bodies from the wrecked building accelerated overnight.
The collapse occurred during a performance by merengue artist Rubby Pérez, who was among those initially reported missing. Emergency services later confirmed that Pérez's body was recovered from the scene.
Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the operations center, confirmed that no one had been rescued alive since Tuesday.
Health Minister Victor Atallah noted that the majority of fatalities resulted from severe head trauma, indicating the speed and force of the collapse. "The majority of the people who died, died instantly. Many were sitting down; the ceiling hit them in the head and chest," he stated.
President Luis Abinader, along with First Lady Raquel Arbaje, visited the site to express condolences to the victims' families.
As the Dominican Republic grieves, questions remain about the circumstances that led to this horrific event, and investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collapse and prevent similar tragedies in the future.