The number of deaths continues to rise after the collapse of a popular disco in Santo Domingo. The disaster has claimed 113 lives so far, according to the Dominican Republic’s disaster relief agency. Director of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), Juan Manuel Méndez, also reported numerous injuries, although the exact number was not specified. Méndez stated that 155 ambulances had transported patients to hospitals and private clinics, with each vehicle carrying two or three patients to speed up the rescue efforts.
The tragedy occurred on the night of April 8 at the “Jet Set” establishment, where renowned Merengue singer Rubby Pérez was performing when the disco’s roof collapsed, trapping numerous guests. Among them were local politicians and celebrities. Eyewitnesses reported that the ceiling fell like dust.
The exact number of guests remained unclear. According to media reports, between 500 and 1,000 people were present in the club at the time of the incident. The search and rescue operations were still ongoing on Wednesday morning, with up to 400 helpers involved.
Méndez did not rule out the possibility of finding more people buried in the debris during the press conference. He also confirmed the death of Pérez, after his daughter had previously told the media that the 69-year-old was still alive and singing under the rubble. Additionally, the authorities mourned the death of Monte Cristi Province Governor Nelsy Milagro Cruz Martínez, former baseball star Octavio Dotel, businessman Luis Emilio Guillén Liranzo, saxophonist Luis Solís and cardiologist Lourdes Ricard.
President Luis Abinader declared three days of national mourning after visiting the site, instructing all public institutions to lower their flags to half-mast from April 8 to 10. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his sincere condolences to his counterpart and wished all survivors a speedy recovery on behalf of the Russian people in a telegram.
The causes of the disaster remained uncertain. According to media reports, the collapsed building was 52 years old. The owner, Antonio Espaillat, was in the United States at the time of the incident. However, the family of the businessman issued a statement promising to help the affected individuals and cooperate fully and transparently with the authorities in investigating the incident.
Speculations about the causes of the collapse have already emerged on social media. Users have linked the “Jet Set” collapse to the poor condition of the building, excessive load due to the extensive sound and lighting equipment, a fire in the building in 2023, or resonance effects.