At Least 44 Dead After Roof Collapses At Dominican Republic Nightclub | rssama.com

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — At slightest 44 group died and 160 others were injured successful nan Dominican superior early Tuesday erstwhile nan tile collapsed astatine an iconic nightclub wherever politicians, athletes and others were attending a merengue concert, authorities said.

Crews were searching for imaginable survivors successful nan rubble astatine nan one-story Jet Set nightclub successful Santo Domingo, said Juan Manuel Méndez, head of nan Center of Emergency Operations.

“We presume that galore of them are still alive, and that is why nan authorities present will not springiness up until not a azygous personification remains nether that rubble,” he said.

Rescue workers hunt for survivors astatine nan Jet Set nightclub aft its tile collapsed during a merengue performance successful Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

AP Photo/Eddy Vittini

Nearly 12 hours aft nan apical of nan nightclub collapsed down onto patrons, rescue crews were still pulling retired survivors from nan debris. At nan scene, firefighters removed blocks of surgery actual and sawed planks of wood to usage them arsenic planks to assistance dense debris arsenic nan sound of drills breaking done actual filled nan air.

The confirmed decease toll had reached 44, Méndez said successful nan early afternoon. Earlier, officials had said location were astatine slightest 160 group injured.

Nelsy Cruz, nan politician of nan northwestern state of Montecristi and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was among nan victims. She had called President Luis Abinader astatine 12:49 a.m. saying she was trapped and that nan tile had collapsed, First Lady Raquel Abraje told reporters. Officials said Cruz died later astatine nan hospital.

“This is excessively awesome a tragedy,” Abraje said successful a surgery voice.

Personnel of Civil Defence and firefighters inspect nan Jet Set nightclub aft nan illness of its roof, successful Santo Domingo, connected April 8, 2025.

FRANCESCO SPOTORNO via Getty Images

Meanwhile, nan injured see erstwhile MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, legislator Bray Vargas and merengue vocalist Rubby Pérez, who was performing erstwhile nan tile collapsed, officials said.

His manager, Enrique Paulino, whose garment was spattered pinch blood, told reporters astatine nan segment that nan performance began soon earlier midnight, pinch nan tile collapsing almost an hr later, sidesplitting nan group’s saxophonist.

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

It wasn’t instantly clear what caused nan tile to collapse.

Jet Set issued a connection saying it was cooperating pinch authorities. “The nonaccomplishment of quality life leaves america successful a authorities of heavy symptom and dismay,” it said.

Members of Civil Defence and firefighters transportation a wounded man pursuing nan illness of nan Jet Set nightclub roof, successful Santo Domingo, connected April 8, 2025.

FRANCESCO SPOTORNO via Getty Images

Manuel Olivo Ortiz, whose boy attended nan performance but did not return home, was among those anxiously waiting extracurricular nan nine known for its accepted parties held connected Monday wherever renowned nationalist and world artists perform.

“We’re holding connected only to God,,” Olivo said.

Also awaiting connection was Massiel Cuevas, godmother of 22-year-old Darlenys Batista.

“I’m waiting for her. She’s successful there, I cognize she’s successful there,” Cuevas said, patient successful her belief that Batista would beryllium pulled retired alive.

President Abinader wrote connected X that each rescue agencies are “working tirelessly” to thief those affected.

“We profoundly regret nan calamity that occurred astatine nan Jet Set nightclub. We person been pursuing nan incident infinitesimal by infinitesimal since it occurred,” he wrote.

Abinader arrived astatine nan segment and hugged those looking for friends and family, immoderate pinch tears streaming down their faces.

“We person religion successful God that we will rescue moreover much group alive,” he told reporters.

An charismatic pinch a megaphone stood extracurricular nan nine imploring nan ample crowd that had gathered to hunt for friends and relatives to springiness ambulances space.

“You person to cooperate pinch authorities, please,” he said. “We are removing people.”

At 1 infirmary wherever nan injured were taken, an charismatic stood extracurricular reference aloud nan names of survivors arsenic a crowd gathered astir her and yelled retired nan names of their loved ones.

Meanwhile, dozens of group gathered astatine nan National Institute of Forensic Pathology, which projected pictures of nan victims truthful their loved ones could place them.

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Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.