In the northern part of the Dominican Republic, the coastal city of Santo Domingo is reeling from a major nightclub tragedy. The roof of the popular Jet Set nightclub collapsed on Tuesday during a concert by local singer Rubby Pérez, resulting in at least 184 fatalities, according to the latest reports. The performance had just begun when part of the roof gave way, trapping concertgoers under the rubble. With rescue efforts ongoing, we take a moment to remember those who lost their lives at the hands of this disaster.
Will Grant, the BBC’s Mexico, Central America, and Cuba correspondent, has the latest:
The collapse, which happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning, has left a trail of devastation in its wake. As rescuers sift through the wreckage, the toll of those dead continues to rise. For families of the victims, the wait for news from authorities is agonizingly slow, but efforts are in full swing to bring out alive anyone who might still be trapped.
Rescue teams from Israel, Mexico, and local workers are conducting a thorough search using heat-sensing equipment to pinpoint potential survivors. The grim task of finding and documenting the deceased is being undertaken by emergency service personnel, who have retrieved bodies covered in blankets on stretchers in a somber procession out of the building. Meanwhile, the authorities are trying to keep the public informed with regular updates.
Survivors of the collapse are being treated at local hospitals, and police have confirmed that the live show’s performer, Pérez, is among the dead. Also among the fatalities are some well-known sports figures, including former baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, along with a regional governor.
President Luis Abinader initiated three days of national mourning to reflect on the magnitude of the tragedy unfurling at the site. As the nation grieves, questions about the cause of the collapse are beginning to arise. Many point to a fire that occurred at the nightclub about two years ago, with concerns that the blaze may have weakened the structure or that repairs were not executed properly.
The nightclub’s owner, Antonio Espaillat, issued a video message expressing his condolences and asserting his full cooperation with the authorities’ investigation. The community is left to wonder what caused this tragedy and how it could have been prevented.
On the ground, a scene of helplessness and despair keeps unfolding, with families straining to hear news about their missing relatives. Among them is Shailyn Peña, the 17-year-old daughter of Maximo Peña, a regular attendee who invited his family to celebrate his daughter’s upcoming birthday. The result has been a nightmare: Shailyn’s father and two other family members are buried under the wreckage. To Shailyn, the possibility of finding her father alive is her only hope, but she notes the birth of this new year without him and her loved ones feels like an unwelcome, shadowed celebration.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly885xre5do
