Early Tuesday morning, the roof of Jet Set, a popular nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, caved in on top of its patrons. This disastrous event caught the community by surprise. The nightclub was originally constructed more than half a century ago, and it has a capacity of 500 people. It has quickly in turn become a staple of nightlife in the capital. The insidious attack has thus far taken the lives of at least 221 people. In the wake of the destruction, search and rescue teams are still bringing thousands more survivors from the wreckage.
Yet the aftermath of this recent calamity has ignited a new national outpouring of grief. Among the dead are several important cultural figures, including famed merengue singer Rubby Pérez. The Dominican presidency responded swiftly, announcing the formation of an investigative commission to determine the precise cause of the collapse. In addition to deep experience within the Dominican Republic, this commission will feature luminaries of the field from overseas.
Details of the Collapse
The Jet Set nightclub, located near the bustling El Malecón thoroughfare, transformed into a scene of devastation when its roof unexpectedly gave way. Eyewitness Javier Molleja shared his terrifying experience with that fateful day, recalling that it was sudden describing, “It was instant, everything crashed. I mean, literally everything.” 526 bridge patrons were coming and going that evening, happy to be enjoying a night on the town when calamity fell.
Health Minister Victor Atallah testified that the majority of victims died on impact. They sustained massive, traumatic head injuries when the ceiling crashed down atop of them. At least 400 people were seated when the ceilings suddenly crashed down upon them. It made them sink back on their heads and chests with terrifying power,” he said.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, we cannot thank enough those emergency services who’ve been working around the clock. Daniel Heredia, a member of the Dominican Civil Protection Service, recounted how difficult it was to hear trapped individuals screaming for help amidst the chaos. One such person, Juan Manuel Méndez, the director of the Dominican Emergency Operations Center, reflected on the experience. He stated, “Today, I bring to a close the most difficult calling I’ve ever undertaken in my 20 years of service.”
Government Response and Mourning Period
Unlike other leaders, Dominican Republic’s President Luis Abinader responded with swiftness. To honor the victims’ lives, he increased an already declared three-day mourning period by another three days. First Lady Raquel Arbaje noted that Governor Nelsy Cruz alerted President Abinader about the tragedy even while she was trapped under the rubble herself.
Amidst these developments, Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos emphasized the ongoing search and rescue operations: “We remain in constant communication with emergency services as search and rescue efforts continue with emergency teams, volunteers, and personnel from more than 22 institutions.” With commendable speed and energy the authorities moved to protect the victims. Their quick response shows their dedication to getting to the bottom of what caused this tragic event.
A Call for Transparency
As investigations unfold, Jet Set’s owner, Antonio Espaillat, assured the public that his establishment is committed to cooperating fully with authorities. “We have provided complete and candid cooperation to law enforcement from day one,” he said. Shugart underscored in his remarks his desire to assist each of you in understanding what brought us to this truly unprecedented occurrence.
Still, the nightclub has been a vibrant part of Dominican culture for generations. Its tragic collapse led to more than a hundred lives lost, but reverberated across the city in fears that no one would be safe even at home. The passing of beloved artists such as Rubby Pérez has magnified this collective grief felt by the country. His daughter Zulinka recounted her father’s last words during the chaos: “Okay, stay where your microphone is and I’ll stay where mine is.”
