The roof of an iconic nightclub in the capital of Dominican Republic collapsed almost an hour after a merengue concert by Rubby Pérez began, killing at least 79 people and leaving at least 155 others injured, according to the director of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), General Juan Manuel Méndez.
Among the attendees at the Jet Set in Santo Domingo were well-known politicians, musicians, and athletes in the Dominican Republic.
Authorities pointed out that it is still too early to determine the causes of the collapse.
The rescue teams continued to search for survivors among the rubble more than 12 hours after the roof collapsed, while a large number of people were still waiting for news about their loved ones near the site.
Who was Rubby Pérez?
One of the deceased is Roberto Antonio Pérez Herrera, better known as Rubby Pérez. He was born on March 8, 1956 in the Dominican Republic and before starting his career in the music world, he dreamed of becoming a baseball player. However, in 1972 he was hit by a vehicle, an incident that fractured his right leg and shattered his dream of making it to the Major Leagues.
In an interview with Telemundo in 2018, Pérez commented that this event changed the way he saw life and decided to choose music.
“God had another purpose for me, which was that instead of having a bat in my hand, I would have a microphone, so that I could communicate to people my joy, my positivity, my desire to keep moving forward, no matter what happened,” expressed the person who was known as “The loudest voice of merengue.”
In 1982, Pérez joined the orchestra of Wilfrido Vargas, with which he recorded about 22 songs, including “El Africano” and “Volveré”.
Who were the other victims?
El Jet Set was a place known for organizing merengue parties every Monday that attracted national and international artists as well as several well-known Dominicans.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of Major League Baseball player Nelson Cruz, was the first person to alert Dominican President Luis Abinader about the disaster. She called him on the phone and told him she was buried under the rubble, according to First Lady Raquel Abraje.
Nelsy Cruz later died in a hospital due to her injuries, authorities reported.
The Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic posted on social media X that former Major League pitcher Octavio Dotel passed away. Authorities had managed to rescue Dotel from the rubble and transported him to a hospital, where he died. Dominican baseball player Tony Blanco, who spent most of his career in Japan, also died, league spokesman Satosky Terrero stated.
Among the list of deceased, we can also find Martín Polanco, a renowned fashion designer.
What was the Jet Set?
It was an iconic nightclub located in the south of Santo Domingo that has been operating for almost five decades. It was known for its “Jet Set Mondays” where local and international artists performed.
The club opened its doors in 1973 as a nightclub and restaurant, becoming the most popular place of its kind in the country, according to the Listín Diario.
The club underwent renovations in 2010 and 2015, and in 2023 it was struck by lightning, according to the newspaper.
General admission tickets for Monday’s concert with Rubby Pérez cost $32, while VIP access was $40, according to the club’s website.
Why did the nightclub’s ceiling collapse?
Authorities say it is too early to determine why the roof collapsed. Firefighters removed pieces of concrete and created makeshift supports in their attempt to reach the survivors buried under the rubble.
The owners of Jet Set, who issued a statement indicating that they are cooperating with authorities, could also not be immediately reached for comment on the collapse.
President Luis Abinader wrote in X that all rescue agencies are working tirelessly to help those affected.
“We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it happened,” wrote.
Abinader arrived at the scene and embraced those who were searching for their friends and family members. “We have faith in God that we will rescue even more people alive,” he declared to the press.