The death toll in the catastrophic nightclub collapse in the Dominican Republic has risen to at least 184, as desperate families continue to wait for news about missing loved ones. The incident occurred on Tuesday.
Video footage circulating on social media showed he moment just before the roof collapsed, crushing hundreds of nightclub-goers under tonnes of debris.
Rescuers officially ended the search for survivors late Wednesday and shifted their focus to recovery efforts.
The collapse occurred early Tuesday at Jet Set, a nightclub in southern Santo Domingo, during a merengue concert by singer Rubby Pérez, who also died in the disaster.
The nightclub was hosting musicians, politicians, professional athletes and celebrities. It was filled with dancing and music when the ceiling gave way without warning — sending tonnes of concrete crashing down on hundreds of guests.
Victimis spent ‘hours under rubble’
Witnesses say dust began falling from the roof and into drinks shortly after the show began, but no one expected the entire structure to give way.
Many victims were instantly crushed or trapped under the rubble, with emergency services receiving over 100 calls from people buried inside the club. Rescuers from Puerto Rico and Israel joined local teams to pull out 145 survivors, but over 20 remain hospitalised, including at least eight in critical condition.
“They spent hours under rubble with multiple injuries, bleeding and fractures,” said Dr Julio Landrón, director of the Dr Ney Arias Lora Trauma Hospital. “None of them are in the clear.”
‘We cannot wait until night time,’ cry grieving families
Only 54 victims have been identified so far. At the National Institute of Forensic Pathology, dozens of people waited overnight. Some wore masks because of the strong smell, while many held photos of missing loved ones and begged officials for information.
“We cannot wait until nighttime!” cried one woman. “We’re going to go crazy!”
Some of the dead include Rubby Pérez, his saxophonist Luis Solís, former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, Dominican player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, fashion designer Martín Polanco, and a retired UN official. Nelsy Cruz, governor of Montecristi province and sister of MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, called the president from beneath the rubble before later succumbing to her injuries in hospital.
Other victims include an Army captain, the president of AFP Popular Bank and his wife, and several bartenders from Venezuela.
The collapse of Jet Set has sent shockwaves through the country and beyond. Meanwhile, a psychological support commission has been set up for survivors and grieving families.
“This is a very traumatic situation,” said national lawmaker Pedro Martínez, who is also searching for missing relatives.
Authorities are yet to determine why the roof collapsed. The nightclub, which opened in 1973 and was renovated in 2010 and 2015, had also been struck by lightning in 2023. Jet Set’s owners say they are cooperating with authorities, but no inspection records have been released, and government offices have referred questions back and forth.
