A terrible tragedy has struck the Dominican Republic after the roof of a popular nightclub in Santo Domingo collapsed while the famous merengue singer Rubby Perez was performing. The incident occurred at the Jet Set nightclub on April 8 while it was packed with people. So far, more than 120 have been confirmed dead, including Perez and two former Major League Baseball players, Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco.
According to witnesses, the chaos began after a blackout, and then the club's roof caved in. Zulinka Perez, Rubby's daughter, survived after running outside, but her father was unable to escape. Also among the dead was the governor of Monte Cristi, Nelsy Cruz. As a result, the President of the country declared three days of national mourning.
An estimated 500 to 1,000 people were inside the club when the tragedy occurred. rescue teams moved quickly, with assistance from Puerto Rico and Israel. They used a crane to remove debris and search for possible survivors, but according to the Emergency Operations Center, no survivors have been found since 3 p.m., April 8.
Relatives gathered around the area and at hospitals hoping to hear news of their missing loved ones. According to a witness, the impact of the collapse was like an earthquake or tsunami. Amid the grief, artists released tributes to Rubby Perez, including Wilfrido Vargas and Olga Tanon.
The Jet Set Club has been in operation for over 50 years, known for its Monday night concerts. In its last Instagram post before the incident, it even invited fans to dance and have fun. Now, it has contacted authorities and said they will cooperate fully and honestly with the investigation.
