The collapse of the Dominican Republic club’s roof killed at least 113 people as they are still looking for survivors
As dust starts to fall into people’s drinks from the ceiling, the legendary jet club in Santo Domingo is packed with musicians, professional athletes and government officials.
A few minutes later, the entire roof collapsed. The concrete slab killed at least 113 people and was trapped in dozens of people on a dance floor, with hundreds attending a lively Melenger concert earlier Tuesday. Authorities said more than 255 people were injured.
The victims included Merengue Icon Rubby Pérez, who sang to the crowd before the disaster. Emergency operations director Juan Manuel Méndez said his body was found earlier Wednesday.
More than 24 hours after the collapse, rescuers are still looking for potential survivors.
“As long as they report a missing person, we’ll be here,” Manders said.
Rescue workers from Puerto Rico and Israel arrived in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday to help local authorities conduct searches.
Late Tuesday night, those who were still looking for family and friends gathered while a man sang, playing guitar outside the club while singing hymns.
There are only 32 people so far
So far, only 32 people have been found in one of the worst disasters that have hit the Dominican Republic. Local media reported that the deaths included cardiologists, government architects, retired police officers and brothers of youth deputy ministers.
The MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel of the country’s professional baseball league spokesman Satosky Terrero and Dominican player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera were also killed.
Nelsy Cruz, the sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, informed President Luis Abinader about the disaster. She called him under the rubble, but later died in the hospital.
Dozens died after the collapse of a collapsed roof in the Dominican Republic nightclub earlier Tuesday, officials said. Rescuers continued to search for victims in the rubble, and nearly 12 hours after the collapse, crew members still pulled survivors out.
Other victims include saxophonist Luis Solís, who plays on the stage as the roof drops, with several Venezuelan bartenders and an army captain leaving behind four young daughters. Three of the employees also died, including AFP’s popular bank and the president of his wife, financial services firm Grupo Pocult said.
However, countless have not been determined yet.
“I’ve been to many hospitals, but haven’t found her yet,” said her friend, Deysi Suriel of Milca Curiel, who lives in North Carolina and is on vacation in the Dominican Republic.
“There is a lot of pain”
The country’s National Forensic Pathology Institute, packed with dozens of crazy relatives, scanned the victim’s name list while others searched for relatives from hospitals, some snatching their photos.
“There is a lot of pain,” said Daniel Rivera, a former public health minister in the country. “We need to have a lot of patience.”
Among those looking for relatives are Kimberly Jones, his 45-year-old artist Osiris Blanc and his friend disappeared.
“It’s their favorite place, and I’ve been there almost every Monday,” Jones said, adding that her niece was missing, too.
It is unclear what caused the roof collapse or the last time the building where the jet was set up was inspected.
The club issued a statement saying it is working with the authorities. A family spokesman who owns the club told the Associated Press that she raised questions about potential inspections.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Public Works Department referred the question to the mayor’s office. A spokesperson for the mayor’s office did not respond to a comment.
