When the survivor search ended, the death toll in the Dominican Republic reached 218 – Country
The roof of an iconic nightclub in the Dominican Republic collapsed at a Melenger concert, killing at least 218 people and injuring more than 200 people. When the disaster occurred earlier on Tuesday, politicians, athletes and fashion designers were sent by JET in Santo Domingo.
Officials said it was too early to determine why the roof fell. The government has entered the recovery phase with the focus on finding bodies, dozens of people lingering in the hospital, and the Forensic College is still eagerly waiting for the words of their loved ones.
what happened?
Rescuers collapsed for two nights at a concert in Merengue, Dominican Republic on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, and rescuers collapsed for two nights before the roof collapsed, using bed sheets.
Ricardo Hernandez/AP
The Merengue concert, led by Rubby Pérez, started in the Jet Set, with the roof collapsed for nearly an hour. The club is known for Monday night's Merengue party, which attracted international celebrities and high-profile Dominicans.
Video posted on social media showed a portion of the roof falling and people began to gradually move away for a few seconds before the entire roof collapsed.
According to Abinader’s wife, Raquel Abraje, the sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, the sister of Dominican President Luis Abinader’s disaster and called on him to call him under the debris. Nelsy Cruz later died in the hospital, officials said.
Why did the roof collapse?
Authorities say it is too early to determine the cause of the disaster. Firefighters removed the broken concrete blocks and created temporary wood panels to attract survivors buried under the debris. More than 180 survivors were rescued from the rubble.
Rescuers searched for survivors at a Jet Night Club after a collapse at a Melengue concert in San Domingo, Dominican Republic on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
noticias crime/AP
It is unclear how often government officials check buildings in the Dominican Republic at one time, or the last time they check for jets.
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A spokesman for Public Works Department referred the Associated Press to the mayor's office for comment. A spokesperson for the mayor's office could not be contacted.
The owner of Jet Set issued a statement saying they are working with authorities and cannot comment.
Who is the victim?
Relatives of Melenger singer Rubby Pérez performed when the roof collapsed and initially said he had been rescued. But Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Center, said his body was found earlier Wednesday.
The singer's manager, Enrique Paulino, said the group's saxophonist also passed away.
People collapsed for two nights at a concert in Merengue, Dominican Republic on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, and people cried.
Ricardo Hernandez/AP
The Dominican Republic's Professional Baseball League was released on X, and former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel was pulled from the fragments but died in a hospital. League spokesman Satosky Terrero said Dominican baseball player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera was also killed.
Other victims include retired UN official, New York-based fashion designer Martín Polanco, who left behind four young girls, and three employees of Grupo Pocul, a financial services company that includes AFP's popular bank president and his wife.
What is a jet?
This is an iconic nightclub in southern Santo Domingo and has been in operation for nearly fifty years. It is known for its “Jet Monday” by local and international Merengue artists.
People gathered outside the Jet Set Nightclub after the roof collapsed at the Melengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Ricardo Hernandez/AP
The club and restaurant opened in 1973, according to the newspaper Listín Diario.
Later, it relocated and celebrated its first anniversary with Merengue and Salsa idol Johnny Ventura.
According to the newspaper, the club was renovated in 2010 and 2015 and was hit by lightning in 2023.
According to the club's website, the general ticket to the concert with Rubby Pérez on Monday is $32, while the VIP ticket is $40.
What's next?
The government announced late Wednesday that it will enter a recovery phase after rescuers searched survivors more than 24 hours after the collapse.
At a Merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, after the roof collapsed, people searched outside the jet nightclub for missing people carefully read the list of names outside the jet nightclub.
Ricardo Hernandez/AP
In-depth research on the collapse is expected. Authorities have not released any preliminary findings or comments on the reasons why the roof drops.
Soldiers arrive Rescue crews search for survivors at night before collapsed at a Merengue concert in San Domingo, Dominican Republic on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
Ricardo Hernandez/AP
Relatives are waiting at the forensic institute in the United States to identify the victims, while others look for relatives from hospitals to hospitals, some grabbing photos.
Many of these injured people are in severe or severe skeletal states.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
