Trapped victim rang president before she died in roof collapse

Santo Domingo: The roof of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic’s capital collapsed during a concert attended by politicians, athletes and other prominent figures, leaving at least 124 people dead and 155 injured, authorities said.

Crews were searching for potential survivors in the rubble at the one-storey Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Centre of Emergency Operations director Juan Manuel Méndez said.

“We presume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities here will not give up until not a single person remains under that rubble,” he said.

Throughout the night on Wednesday, local time, families waited outside the wreckage, anxious for information about their missing relatives and sharing photos with police. More than 150 people were rescued from the rubble on Tuesday. Since that afternoon, however, authorities have not pulled out any survivors.

Juan Manuel Mendez, head of the country’s emergency operations centre, said rescue workers expected to need another 24 to 36 hours to complete their search. Emergency crews deployed heavy machinery to expedite recovery efforts.

The roof of the club caved in about 12.45am during a regular Monday night merengue concert that is popular with Dominican society’s A-list. Officials said they did not know the exact number of people in the club when the roof collapsed.

The Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed.Credit: AP

Montecristi province governor Nelsy Cruz, whose brother is seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was among the victims. She had called President Luis Abinader saying she was trapped and that the roof had collapsed, first lady Raquel Abraje told reporters. Officials said Cruz died later in hospital.

“This is too great a tragedy,” Abraje said in a broken voice.

The Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic posted on X that former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel had died, while Reuters reported that another former MLB player, Tony Blanco, was also killed, citing local authorities.

Nearly 12 hours after the collapse, rescue crews were still pulling survivors out from the debris. At the scene, firefighters removed blocks of broken concrete and sawed planks of wood to use them to lift heavy debris as the noise of drills breaking through concrete filled the air.

Rescue workers search for survivors at the Jet Set nightclub.Credit: AP/Eddy Vittini

Emergency director Mendez said rescue crews were prioritising three areas in the club: “We’re hearing some sounds.”

The disaster struck during a concert by popular Dominican merengue singer Rubby Perez, who was among those killed, according to his manager and family members near the site.

His manager, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, told reporters at the scene that the concert began shortly before midnight on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST), with the roof collapsing almost an hour later, killing the group’s saxophonist.

“It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner,” he said, adding that he initially thought it was an earthquake.

Rescue workers carry a person pulled from the wreckage of the Jet Set nightclub.Credit: AP/Ricardo Hernandez

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the roof to collapse or when the Jet Set building was last inspected. The club issued a statement saying it was co-operating with authorities. “The loss of human life leaves us in a state of deep pain and dismay,” it said.

Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos told TV station CDN that while “everyone wants to know” what happened, authorities were still focused on finding survivors. A makeshift morgue was set up near the club, and more than 120 people lined up to donate blood at two different centres.

Manuel Olivo Ortiz, whose son attended the concert but did not return home, was among those anxiously waiting outside the club. “We’re holding on only to God,” Olivo said.

Also awaiting word was Massiel Cuevas, godmother of 22-year-old Darlenys Batista. “I’m waiting for her. She’s in there, I know she’s in there,” Cuevas said, firm in her belief that Batista would be pulled out alive.

The Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsedCredit: AP

Abinader, the president, posted on X that all rescue agencies were “working tirelessly” to help those affected.

“We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred,” he said.

Abinader arrived at the scene and hugged those looking for friends and family, some with tears streaming down their faces. “We have faith in God that we will rescue even more people alive,” he told reporters.

An official with a megaphone stood outside the club, imploring the large crowd that had gathered to search for friends and relatives to give ambulances space.

Former St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Octavio Dotel in 2011.Credit: AP

“You have to co-operate with authorities, please,” he said. “We are removing people.”

At one hospital where the injured were taken, an official stood outside reading aloud the names of survivors as a crowd gathered and yelled out the names of their loved ones.

Meanwhile, dozens of people gathered at the National Institute of Forensic Pathology, which projected pictures of the victims so loved ones could identify them.

AP, Reuters