The death toll from a nightclub roof crash in the Dominican Republic has been steadily rising as rescuers using heavy machinery, drones and dogs struggle to find survivors at night.
By late Tuesday, at least 98 people died after the roof suddenly appeared around 12:45 a.m. Its Monday Night Ball is a decades-long tradition of the frequent visitor of the celebrities of Dominican society – many of whom are still trapped inside.
Among those killed or injured during Melenger’s concert are the governor, the Dominican Republic MP and two former Major League Baseball players.
“There are not enough words to express the pain of this incident,” said club owner Antonio Espaillat in a video posted on social media. “What happened is devastating for everyone.”
Officials said they focused on rescue and had not yet begun investigating the cause of the tragedy. The building is a former cinema, at least 50 years old, and was the scene of the fire a few years ago.
Authorities said it was not clear how many people were inside when the collapsed. The victim was still pulled out of the ruins and died alive.
With each severe update, the death toll climbed.
According to its director Santos Jiménez, the National Institute of Forensic Sciences had received 98 bodies by Tuesday night.
Rescuers have conducted at least 155 trips to local hospitals, officials said in a series of social media posts.
In an Instagram video shared by the National Police Department, Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Center, said in an Instagram video shared by the National Police that so many people were injured and that two to three people had to be brought to the hospital at first.
“We are taking away people we can rescue alive,” Mr. Meaders said. “You can hear someone asking for help.”
Jet Set, which has been open for 50 years, is one of the most famous clubs in the Dominican Republic. It is known for its Monday performances, a staple in the city’s live music.
Anxious family members gather in the blazing sunshine, longing for news from their loved ones. Some people say that after the disaster, they had up to seven relatives.
Among the people in the nightclub is Nelsy M, the governor of Monte Cristi, Dominican Province.
Ms. Cruz called President Luis Abinader at 12:49 a.m. and first lady Raquel P. Arbaje told reporters on the scene when she was trapped in the ruins.
Mr Abinard said outside the club Tuesday morning that Ms Cruz died in the hospital.
“We deeply regret the tragedy that happened in a jet night club. Since it happened, we have been in a minute of events.”
Octavio Dotel, 51, is a former major league pitcher who was evacuated from the rubble and taken to a local hospital. The Dominican Republic's Professional Baseball League was later announced.
Tony Blanco, another former MLB player, also passed away, a MLB specialist confirmed in a statement.
It is believed that several members of the Dominican Congress had been in the club and several members went to the scene.
Carlos J. Gil Rodríguez, who represents Congressional Santo Domingo, was injured and required emergency surgery, his office said. His wife was injured and released from the hospital, but two of his aides were not found either.
“My dear brother!” a woman screamed when she learned that her siblings were not alive.
Another woman, Yeheris Ventura, cried, describing the anxiety of her husband, Gálver Silvestre, the latter of which is a club whose names are not on the list of survivors or dead.
Monday's show features Melenger singer Rubby Pérez.
Videos circulating on social media and verified by The New York Times show Mr. Perez performing in front of a group of revelers. The camera started to shivering and people started screaming as a large chandelier fell from the ceiling.
Another video, filmed in The Consequences and also verified by The Times, captured extensive damage, indicating that almost the entire roof collapsed, and rubble covered the stage and dance floor as rescuers searched for the wreckage.
Although authorities announced the singer was in the hospital, one of his siblings said the reports were incorrect and that the entertainers remained in the rubble after 14 hours after the collapse. Mr. Meendes confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Mr. Perez has not been found yet.
Authorities say the country's public works minister and his wife's son are still missing.
Minister Eduardo Estrella said in a statement: “But we hope to pray for favorable results in God.”
Major League Baseball Specialist Robert D.
“There is a deep connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic and we are considering all the Dominican players and fans in today’s game,” he said.
Carlos Mendoza Díaz, president of the Dominican engineers, architects and surveyors, said the jet building has been decades old and has been damaged recently.
“The information we gathered was not only a structure that was over 50 years old, but was built for cinemas and later turned into nightclubs, and obviously these were different safety parameters,” he said. “We also knew that there was a fire a few years ago, and maybe the combination of these events could lead to a collapse.”
Nad IbrahimAmelia Nierenberg and Jonathan Wolfe contributed the report.
