SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The count of individuals who lost their lives in the catastrophic roof collapse at a famed nightclub in the Dominican Republic has tragically increased to 184. Meanwhile, numerous people gathered outside the nation’s forensic institute, anxiously awaiting news about their missing loved ones since the disaster occurred over a day ago.
According to Juan Manuel Méndez, the director of the Center of Emergency Operations, rescue teams continue their efforts at the site to locate victims and any possible survivors. Despite their work, no survivors have been discovered since Tuesday afternoon. Méndez assured, “We’re not going to abandon anyone. Our work will continue.”
Nearby, anxious crowds donned face masks, complaining about a pervasive odor as they pressed officials for updates on their missing relatives. Earlier that day, authorities at the National Institute of Forensic Pathology had identified 54 victims by name.
A distressed woman, waiting for news of her relative whose name was not mentioned, expressed, “We cannot wait until nighttime! We’re going to go crazy!” Meanwhile, officials urged calm, reporting they had delivered over 28 bodies to grieving families, though the total number of all bodies recovered remained uncertain.
By late Wednesday, officials confirmed the dreadful toll had risen to at least 184 deceased, with over 200 individuals sustaining injuries. José Sánchez, whose brother and brother-in-law were missing, lamented, “The authorities are selling us false dreams!”
The tragedy unfolded when the iconic Jet Set club in Santo Domingo hosted a bustling crowd, including musicians, athletes, and government officials. Dust began to descend from the ceiling into patrons’ drinks early Tuesday morning. Minutes later, the ceiling completely caved in, with concrete slabs claiming lives and trapping many dancers enjoying a lively merengue concert. The frantic minutes following the collapse resulted in over 100 calls to the country’s 911 system, with many from those trapped under the debris.
Among the victims was merengue icon Rubby Pérez, performing when disaster struck. Pérez’s body was recovered by Wednesday morning, noted emergency operations director Juan Manuel Méndez. A government announcement on Wednesday evening indicated a shift to a recovery phase focused on body retrieval after 145 individuals were rescued from the wreckage.
Assistance arrived from Puerto Rico and Israel on Wednesday morning, reinforcing search efforts. Santo Domingo’s Mayor, Carolina Mejía, commended acts of compassion, including a Dominican offering coffee to those present and a Costa Rican vacationer joining the rescue due to his experience on a rescue team back home.
Among the deceased, a few dozen people have been named, marking one of the Dominican Republic’s most significant tragedies. Prominent among the victims were a cardiologist, government architect, retired police officer, a former United Nations official, relatives of high-ranking government officials, and well-known sports figures such as former MLB player Octavio Dotel and Dominican player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera.
Nelsy Cruz, the Governor of Montecristi and sister of MLB star Nelson Cruz, informed President Luis Abinader via a call from beneath the rubble before succumbing to her injuries. Notable victims also included saxophonist Luis Solís, fashion designer Martín Polanco, several bartenders from Venezuela, and an Army captain who left behind four children. Furthermore, Grupo Popular reported the loss of three employees, one being the president of AFP Popular Bank and his spouse. A man sorrowfully shared the loss of five family members, including his wife and son.
A significant number of victims remain unidentified. Desperate individuals like Deysi Suriel searched tirelessly for friends like 61-year-old Milca Curiel, a North Carolina resident on vacation. Health Minister Dr. Víctor Elías Atallah Lajam announced the creation of a commission to provide psychological support to families affected by the tragedy.
Over 20 injured individuals remained in hospitals as of Wednesday, with at least eight in critical condition. Dr. Julio Landrón of Dr. Ney Arias Lora Trauma Hospital, treating 21 of the nightclub’s injured, said, “A point in their favor is that they’re young,” but cautioned that no one was yet out of danger due to severe injuries such as skull and femur fractures.
Relatives frantically waited as officials disclosed identified victim names at the forensic institute, some clutching photographs and moving between hospitals. Amidst despair, individuals like Virginia Rosario searched for missing family members, expressing immense grief and loneliness at the loss of her sister.
Authorities faced challenges identifying 33 bodies late Wednesday morning, with the national lawmaker Pedro Martínez, also having missing relatives, calling the situation “very traumatic.” Kimberly Jones, searching for her godson and niece, expressed anguish over their favorite venue turning into a scene of tragedy.
The exact cause of the roof’s collapse remains unknown, as does the timing of the last inspection of the Jet Set building. The club committed to cooperating with authorities, while inquiries regarding inspections were redirected among different officials without a definitive response.