A devastating disaster unfolded early Wednesday when the roof of the iconic Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic collapsed during a live concert by renowned merengue singer Rubby Perez. Nearly 100 people lost their lives in the tragedy.
Rescue efforts, involving over 370 personnel, continued for more than 24 hours after the incident. As the day turned to night on Tuesday, the focus of the operation shifted from searching for survivors to recovering bodies from the debris of twisted steel, broken bricks, and collapsed tin.
Perez, a beloved figure in Caribbean music, was performing when a sudden blackout hit the venue just after midnight. Moments later, the roof gave way. While his daughter, Zulinka, survived, Perez was among those killed, as confirmed by his manager Enrique Paulino.
The nightclub, a landmark of Dominican nightlife for decades, was filled well beyond its seating capacity of 700, with some estimates putting the crowd at around 1,000 people when the collapse occurred at approximately 12:44 a.m. local time.
Among the deceased were Nelsy Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi province, and former MLB star Octavio Dotel. Dotel, who had been rescued from the wreckage alive, tragically died from his injuries on the way to the hospital. His memory was honored before Tuesday’s baseball game at Citi Field in New York.
Dominican President Luis Abinader visited the site, declaring three days of national mourning and urging calm as families gathered outside hospitals and the nightclub, hoping to hear news of missing loved ones.
Helicopter footage showed the extent of the damage, with a massive hole in the club’s structure. Cranes and rescue teams worked tirelessly through the night, while authorities called for urgent blood donations to assist the injured.
Jet Set, a staple of Santo Domingo’s nightlife for more than 50 years, had promoted Perez’s performance as a special evening to “dance to his greatest hits.” The club has vowed full cooperation with investigators as the country processes the enormity of the disaster.
