Jet Set nightclub roof collapse in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, kills dozens
At least 98 people died and 255 were taken to hospitals after a roof collapsed at a nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic early Tuesday, authorities said.
Center of Emergency Operations Director Juan Manuel Méndez said early Wednesday the search for potential survivors in the rubble at the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo was continuing through the night. “We presume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities here will not give up until not a single person remains under that rubble,” he said.
He said teams were still working to determine the total number of people who were present at the scene at the time of the incident. Nearly 12 hours after the top of the nightclub collapsed onto patrons, rescue crews were still pulling out survivors from under the debris. Firefighters removed blocks of broken concrete and used sawed pieces of wood as planks to lift heavy debris as the noise of drills breaking through concrete filled the air.
Méndez said rescue crews were prioritizing three areas in the club: “We’re hearing some sounds.”
A specialized canine unit has been brought in to help search in critical, hard-to-reach areas, emergency officials said.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was among the victims. She had called President Luis Abinader at 12:49 a.m. saying she was trapped and that the roof had collapsed, First Lady Raquel Abraje told reporters. Officials said Cruz died later at the hospital.
“This is too great a tragedy,” Abraje said in a broken voice.
In a statement, Cruz’s family paid tribute to “her legacy of service and love for others.”
Retired Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel also died in the collapse, the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League confirmed in a statement. Dotel played for more than a dozen teams during his career, including the New York Mets and Yankees, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, LA Dodgers, Colorado Rockies and Detroit Tigers, and helped lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series championship in 2011.
National Police of the Dominican Republic/X
Merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing at the time of the collapse, died in the disaster, his manager, Enrique Paulino, confirmed in a statement to CBS News.
Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, told reporters at the scene that the concert began shortly before midnight, with the roof collapsing almost an hour later.
“It was sudden. I thought it was an earthquake, so I threw myself to the ground and covered my head,” he said. “We tried to get to the area where Rubby was but there was too much debris there.”
It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the roof to collapse. The Jet Set club said in a statement, “We are collaborating fully and transparently with the competent authorities to help the victims and clarify what happened.”
FRANCESCO SPOTORNO/AFP/Getty 
The club said the tragedy “has deeply struck the hearts of all of us who are part of Jet Set and all Dominicans. The loss of human life leaves us in a state of profound pain and dismay. In this difficult moment, our prayers are with each of the affected families. We share their pain as if it were our own, because we are also in mourning.”
President Abinader wrote on social media that all rescue agencies were “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 occurred,” he wrote.
Abinader arrived at the scene and hugged those looking for friends and family, some with tears streaming down their faces.
“We have faith in God that we will rescue even more people alive,” he told reporters.
Erika Santelices / REUTERS 
At one hospital where the injured were taken, an official stood outside reading aloud the names of survivors as a crowd gathered around her and yelled out the names of their loved ones.
Manuel Olivo Ortiz, whose son attended the concert but did not return home, was among those anxiously waiting outside the club known for its traditional parties held on Monday where renowned national and international artists perform.
“We’re holding on only to God,” Olivo said.
Also awaiting word 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 said, firm in her belief that Batista would be pulled out alive.
contributed to this report.
Source: cbsnews.com