A night of entertainment turned deadly in the Dominican Republic when the roof of Santo Domingo’s Jet Set nightclub collapsed during a performance, crushing attendees beneath tons of debris. The April 8 disaster has left at least 113 people dead and over 255 injured in one of the Caribbean nation’s worst peacetime tragedies.
The casualty list includes several notable figures – former MLB pitchers Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, along with provincial governor Nelsy Cruz. In a heartbreaking detail, Cruz reportedly spoke with President Luis Abinader by phone while trapped in the rubble before she died.
Rescue operations continue as investigators work to determine why the structure failed during the merengue concert. The nightclub’s owner has expressed profound grief over the incident while vowing to assist authorities in their investigation. The government has declared three days of national mourning as the country comes to terms with the staggering loss of life.
