The roof of Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital, has collapsed and killed about 98 people, including two former Major League Baseball players, during a performance by Merengue artiste Rubby Pérez and his orchestra.
The incident occurred around 1 a.m. on Monday, April 7, with approximately 300 people inside, authorities reported.
Pérez’s whereabouts remain unknown as at Tuesday evening, raising concerns he may be among the deceased.
The National Emergency System reported at least 223 injuries.
The Associated Press, citing local officials, confirmed the death toll on Tuesday.
Distraught families gathered at the scene the morning after, sharing photos of missing loved ones as ambulances transported the injured to hospitals in the area.
“We’re tirelessly clearing debris and searching for survivors,” said Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Center, on Tuesday night.
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation.
Aerial footage from local news outlets revealed a gaping hole in the venue’s roof, directly above where the audience had been gathered.
Among the victims was former MLB player Octavio Dotel, who was pulled alive from the rubble but succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital, according to Méndez and Dotel’s Foundation.
Another former major leaguer, Tony Blanco, also perished, as confirmed by MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred and the Dominican Sports Ministry.
“We share in the grief of their family, friends, and colleagues, and offer our prayers for their eternal rest,” the ministry said in a statement honouring Blanco.
