A catastrophic structural failure at Santo Domingo’s Jet Set nightclub has left the Dominican Republic in mourning after the venue’s roof collapsed during a live performance, killing at least 113 concertgoers and injuring hundreds more. The April 8 tragedy occurred as merengue artist Rubby Pérez entertained a packed house.
The victims included sports figures like former MLB players Octavio Dotel, who enjoyed a 15-year career with numerous teams, and Tony Blanco, who also played professionally in Japan. The disaster also took the life of Nelsy Cruz, a provincial governor and sister of baseball star Nelson Cruz, who made a final call to the nation’s president from the wreckage.
As rescue teams continue their grim work, attention has turned to determining what caused the deadly collapse. The nightclub’s owner has expressed his devastation while promising full cooperation with investigators. President Luis Abinader has declared three days of national mourning as the country grieves one of its worst civilian disasters in recent memory.
