A catastrophic roof collapse at the iconic Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has left at least 98 people dead and more than 150 injured, officials confirmed Tuesday. The tragedy struck during the early hours of the morning as hundreds gathered for a live performance by famed merengue singer Rubby Pérez.
Among the victims were high-profile figures including Nelsy Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, and former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel, 51. Dotel reportedly died en route to the hospital after being pulled from the debris. President Luis Abinader confirmed their deaths and extended condolences to their families in a statement issued later in the day.
Dotel, a celebrated figure in Dominican sports, began his MLB career with the New York Mets in 1999 and played for numerous teams including the Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, and Detroit Tigers before retiring in 2013.
More than 400 emergency responders remain at the site, working around the clock to locate survivors still trapped under the rubble. Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Centre (COE), expressed cautious optimism. “We continue to believe there may be people alive beneath the debris,” he told reporters.
Jet Set, a popular nightlife institution in the capital, is renowned for hosting vibrant live music events on Monday nights. Witness accounts and footage from the night reveal a festive atmosphere before chaos unfolded. One video circulating on social media shows a man pointing toward the ceiling just moments before a deafening crash plunges the screen into darkness, followed by screams.
A member of Rubby Pérez’s band told local media that the venue was filled to capacity when the collapse occurred around 1:00 a.m. “I thought it was an earthquake,” he said. Pérez’s daughter later confirmed the singer was among those trapped, though his current condition has not yet been made public.
President Abinader has declared a period of national mourning and pledged full government support for rescue and recovery efforts. As emergency crews continue their search, officials warn that the death toll may still rise.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the country, touching the worlds of politics, sports, and entertainment—all of which were represented in the audience that night. Investigations into the structural failure are expected to begin once rescue operations conclude.
