More than 100 people died when the roof of a nightclub collapsed in Dominican Republic – a shocking incident
An incident took place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Tuesday night that shook the whole world. The roof of a famous nightclub – Jet Set – suddenly collapsed, killing 124 people, and 145 people were saved. Two former MLB (Major League Baseball) players, who had once played in the world’s biggest stadiums, also lost their lives in this incident.
This incident took place around 1 pm on Tuesday night when merengue singer Rubby Pérez and his orchestra were performing. Jet Set nightclub, which is considered an iconic venue of the Caribbean, was filled with approximately 300 people at that time. An evening of music and fun turned into death and chaos in a few moments.
A video revealed the truth of the incident
A video has gone viral on social media and news channels in which a performance is going on on the stage. Suddenly a spectator sees something falling down. After a while the pendant lights of the ceiling start shaking, and then suddenly the entire roof collapses. The video only shows screams and the sound of falling objects – then it becomes dark.
Rescue operation continues
Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Center, said 33 bodies are still unidentified. Rescue teams are working day and night. There could still be people under the rubble, so authorities are constantly removing debris.
Méndez said:
“We will not get tired. We will not stop until we find every single person.”
Teams from 22 public institutions are helping at the site, including rescue workers from Israel and Puerto Rico. It has become a massive international effort.
Death of Former MLB Stars
Another emotional blow to the tragedy came when it was learned that Octavio Dotel – former MLB player and 2011 World Series winner – also died. Dotel was pulled from the rubble alive, but he died while being taken to the hospital. His foundation also confirmed his death.
Apart from him, Tony Blanco, another former Major League Baseball player, also became a victim of this accident. MLB commissioner and the Sports Ministry of the Dominican Republic gave emotional statements on Blanco’s death.
President Luis Abinader also confirmed that Monte Cristi Governor Nelsy Cruz was also involved in this tragedy. He also has a connection with MLB all-star Nelson Cruz, who was his relative.
Abinader has announced a 3-day mourning and himself visited the site with his wife. He wrote on X (Twitter):
“We are with the families of all those who died in this tragedy. Rescue agencies are doing their job with full dedication.”
Jet Set Nightclub – A famous place
Jet Set nightclub, located in Santo Domingo, is a famous venue in the Caribbean region. It always has a full house crowd on Monday nights, where there is live music, dance and entertainment. The live show of a merengue legend like Ruby Perez is always a huge attraction.
But this time what the crowd got was nothing but pain and never-to-be-forgotten memories.
The pain of families
The families who had come to the site kept showing pictures of their loved ones throughout the night, hoping for a miracle. Ambulances were going one after the other, but every time it was not possible to save anyone.
A survivor told that he had heard a sound a little before the roof collapsed, but no one had thought that the entire building would collapse. Everything was over in a moment.
What was the reason for this collapse?
The exact reason for the collapse is not known so far. Experts are examining the structure and maintenance reports. It is also possible that over-crowding or poor construction could be behind this.
Aerial footage shows a large part of the stage collapsing – especially the place where the audience was sitting. This is a clear indication that there was a weakness in the structure.
Finally, a question: Could this tragedy have been avoided?
Issues such as infrastructure safety, overcrowding and timely maintenance have become serious in developing countries. If a big venue like Jet Set can collapse, just think what will happen to smaller places?
This tragedy has reminded us once again that safety is not just a guideline – it is a requirement.
What are your thoughts? Is there proper safety in your city for such crowded events? Let us know by commenting.