Rescue workers are frantically looking for rubble after the roof of the Dominican Republic’s emblematic nightclub collapsed at the beginning of Tuesday, killing more than a hundred people.
At least 300 people were inside the Jet Set nightclub, in the capital of Santo Domingo, when the roof collapsed about 1 in the morning during the performance of Merengue artist Ruby Perez and his orchestra, authorities said. Perez’s location was unknown on Tuesday night against the background of fears that he could be killed.
At least 113 people, including two former baseball players in the main league, were killed, according to emergency services in an update on Wednesday.
Early the national emergency system announced on Tuesday that over 200 people were injured in the collapse of the roof.
The families of the missing gathered at the scene and shared pictures of their relatives on Tuesday morning, while dozens of ambulances rushed to the hospital.
“We continue to clear debris and look for people,” said Juan Manuel Mendis, director of the Emergency Operations Center on Tuesday night. “We will look tirelessly people.”
The reason for the crash is not yet known.
The air frames from the local newsletters on Tuesday morning showed the place with a wide, gaping hole in the middle of the building where the audience would be located during the implementation.
Drono views shows the site of the collapsed nightclub with a jet in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, on Tuesday. – Erika Santilices/Reuters
The footage from the interior seems to show the moment when the crisis unfolded.
A video shows the band he performs while someone near the scene indicates that something has fallen into the back of the Jet Set club. Moments later pendants lights hung from the ceiling begin to collapse, along with the entire roof on top. The screams and crashes can be heard for a few seconds before the video darkens.
Former Baseball player at Octavio Dotel Octavio Octavio Dotel was among the killed, according to the Mendes and Dotel Foundation. He died on the way to the hospital after being rescued alive by the ruins, Mendes told CNN.
The Dotel Education Academy, Colegio Sabiduría Y Baluarte, mourns him in a statement, saying he leaves “indelible from us who has the privilege of knowing and working with him.”
Another former Major Legier, Tony Blanco, has also died after the collapse, MLB commissioner Robert Manfred and the Dominican Ministry of Sport said.
“We share with their grief with our family, friends and colleagues and offer our prayers for their eternal vacation,” the Ministry of Blanco said in a statement.
Also among the dead was Nelsey Cruz, governor of Monte Christie, Dominican Luis Abinader said. Cruz is linked to the MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, according to a statement by his family, complaining about her death.
Meanwhile, the son of the Minister of Public Affairs Eduardo Estrela is among the missing, Mendes added.
The staff from at least 22 public institutions are on the site that help with response efforts, staff said.
Victim relatives respond to the scene on Tuesday. – Erika Santilices/Reuters
Three days mourning
Abinader has announced three days of mourning after the disaster. He travels to the nightclub later Tuesday morning with his wife, first lady Raquel Arbaye, to express her condolences to the victims.
“We are deeply sorry for the tragedy that happened at the Jet Set nightclub,” wrote the X. “All rescue agencies have provided the necessary help and work tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected families.”
Carolina Majia de Garigo, the mayor of the city, said Santo Domingo awakens “for a terrible tragedy”, offering his condolences to families, “still waiting for news for their loved ones.”
The Jet Set Night Club is one of the most famous places in the Caribbean nation, and the events on Monday night are particularly well attended.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Avery Schmidz of CNN, Jose Alvarez, Pablo Antonio Garcia Escorihuela, Lex Harvey and Lauren Kent have contributed to this report.
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