SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The roof of an iconic nightclub within the Dominican capital collapsed early Tuesday throughout a merengue live performance attended by politicians, athletes and others, leaving at the least 79 individuals useless and 160 injured, authorities mentioned.
Crews have been trying to find potential survivors within the rubble on the one-story Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, mentioned Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Heart of Emergency Operations.
“We continue clearing debris and searching for people,” he mentioned on Tuesday night time. “We’re going to search tirelessly for people.”
Almost 12 hours after the highest of the nightclub collapsed onto patrons, rescue crews have been nonetheless pulling out survivors from below the particles. Firefighters eliminated blocks of damaged concrete and used sawed items of wooden as planks to carry heavy particles because the noise of drills breaking via concrete crammed the air.
Méndez mentioned rescue crews have been prioritizing three areas within the membership: “We’re hearing some sounds.”
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi and sister of seven-time Main League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was among the many victims. She had referred to as President Luis Abinader at 12:49 a.m., saying she was trapped and that the roof had collapsed, first girl Raquel Abraje instructed reporters. Officers mentioned Cruz died later on the hospital.
“This is too great a tragedy,” Abraje mentioned, her voice breaking.
The Skilled Baseball League of the Dominican Republic posted on X that former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, 51, additionally died. Officers had pulled Dotel from the particles earlier and introduced him to a hospital. Additionally killed was Dominican baseball participant Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, mentioned league spokesman Satosky Terrero.
Officers mentioned at the least 160 individuals have been injured, amongst them nationwide lawmaker Bray Vargas.
Relations of merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing when the roof collapsed, initially mentioned that he had been rescued, however Méndez mentioned later Tuesday that wasn’t true. He mentioned rescue crews have been nonetheless searching for Pérez.
Pérez’s supervisor, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, instructed reporters on the scene that the live performance started shortly earlier than midnight, with the roof collapsing virtually an hour later, killing the group’s saxophonist.
FRANCESCO SPOTORNO by way of Getty Pictures
“It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner,” he mentioned, including that he initially thought it was an earthquake.
It wasn’t instantly clear what induced the roof to break down or when the Jet Set constructing was final inspected.
The membership issued a press release saying it was cooperating with authorities and famous that the proprietor, Antonio Espaillat, was in a foreign country and returned late Tuesday.
“There are no words to express the pain this event has caused. What happened has been devastating for everyone,” he mentioned.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Public Works referred inquiries to the mayor’s workplace. A spokesperson for the mayor’s workplace didn’t reply to a message for remark.
FRANCESCO SPOTORNO by way of Getty Pictures
Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos instructed TV station CDN that whereas “everyone wants to know” what occurred, authorities have been nonetheless centered on discovering survivors. They arrange a makeshift morgue close to the membership whereas greater than 120 individuals lined as much as donate blood at two totally different facilities.
Manuel Olivo Ortiz, whose son attended the live performance however didn’t return dwelling, was amongst these anxiously ready outdoors the membership identified for its conventional Monday events the place famend nationwide and worldwide artists carried out.
“We’re holding on only to God,” Olivo mentioned.
Additionally awaiting phrase was Massiel Cuevas, godmother of 22-year-old Darlenys Batista.
“I’m waiting for her. She’s in there, I know she’s in there,” Cuevas mentioned, agency in her perception that Batista could be pulled out alive.
President Abinader wrote on X that each one rescue companies are “working tirelessly” to assist these affected.
“We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred,” he wrote.
Abinader arrived on the scene and hugged these searching for family and friends, some with tears streaming down their faces. “We have faith in God that we will rescue even more people alive,” he instructed reporters.
An official with a megaphone stood outdoors the membership imploring the big crowd that had gathered to seek for associates and relations to present ambulances area.
“You have to cooperate with authorities, please,” he mentioned. “We are removing people.”
At one hospital the place the injured have been taken, an official stood outdoors studying aloud the names of survivors as a crowd gathered round her and yelled out the names of their family members.
In the meantime, dozens of individuals gathered on the Nationwide Institute of Forensic Pathology, which shared photos of the victims so their family members might establish them.
Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
