In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the roof of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo collapsed during a concert, killing at least 98 people and injuring over 150.
Among the victims were high-profile figures like former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province, was also among those affected.
Dotel, 51, tragically died en route to the hospital after being pulled from the wreckage.
The club, packed with hundreds of people, had been hosting a performance by popular merengue singer Rubby Pérez when disaster struck.
What Happened?
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud crash, followed by screams.
Video footage shared on social media shows a crowd enjoying the concert moments before chaos ensued.
Rescuers are still working tirelessly to search for survivors, and there are fears the death toll could rise.
Juan Manuel Méndez, head of the Emergency Operations Centre, expressed hope that many of those trapped are still alive.
The collapse not only took the lives of regular club-goers but also hit close to home for the Dominican Republic’s public figures.
President Luis Abinader offered his condolences, while the country’s leaders and citizens brace for the full scale of this tragedy.
Will the investigation uncover what went wrong? Only time will tell.
