At least 124 people are dead and more than 160 are injured after a roof collapsed at an iconic nightclub in the Dominican Republic early Tuesday, authorities said.
Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations, said crews were searching the rubble at Jet Set in Santo Domingo for potential survivors.
“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.
According to the country’s national police service, the roof caved in at midnight on Tuesday.
Nearly 12 hours after the top of the nightclub collapsed down onto patrons, rescue crews were still pulling out survivors from the debris.
Merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing when the roof collapsed, was severely injured and later died.
Pérez’s manager, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, told reporters at the scene that the concert began shortly before midnight, with the roof collapsing almost an hour later. The group’s saxophonist also died.
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“It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner,” he said, adding that he initially thought it was an earthquake.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was among the victims. She had called President Luis Abinader at 12:49 a.m. saying she was trapped and that the roof had collapsed, First Lady Raquel Abraje told reporters. Officials said Cruz died later at the hospital.
Former MLBer Octavio Dotel, who pitched as a reliever for the Blue Jays in 2011, died at age 51 after sustaining injuries in the collapse.
President Luis Abinder wrote on X that rescue crews were “working tirelessly” to help the victims.
“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.
According to The Associated Press, an official stood outside a hospital where victims were being treated, calling the names of survivors to a crowd searching for their loved ones.
The cause of the roof collapse is under investigation.
Global Affairs Canada told Global News that no Canadian citizens were involved in the roof collapse, but it is “closely monitoring” the situation.
“Global Affairs Canada is aware of a roof collapse at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic and is closely monitoring the situation. We extend our sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost their lives and wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” reads the statement.
“To date, we have no reports of any Canadian citizens involved in this incident. Consular officials are in contact with local authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance to Canadian citizens as needed.”
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Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact:
The Canadian embassy in Santo Domingo by calling (809) 262-3100 or by e-mail at sdmgo.consul@international.gc.ca, or Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre by calling, at any time, +1 613 996 8885, by text message at +1 613-686-3658, via WhatsApp at +1 613-909-8881 or by e-mail at sos@international.gc.ca.
— With files from The Associated Press
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