At least 15 people were killed at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic when the roof caved in on Tuesday. According to authorities, more than 100 were injured in the incident, which occurred early in the morning.
Following the incident, emergency responders rushed to the scene. Ambulances made 101 trips to the hospital, carrying those who needed medical assistance, according to the information shared by authorities via a series of posts on social media.
Director of the Emergency Operations Centre, Juan Manuel Méndez, explained in an Instagram video that the high volume of injured people and ambulances overwhelmed the initial ambulance capacity, forcing them to transport two to three people per trip. The nightclub had at least 300 people inside when the ceiling collapsed, and more than 100 individuals were rescued alive.
Méndez indicated that pleas for help came from all around the rescuers during the rescue operations, which were ongoing up to 7 a.m. Among the injured is renowned merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who performed at the club Monday night. The extent of his injury is currently unclear as authorities are still gathering information about the injured.
During his set, the club’s ceiling started collapsing, according to a circulating video on social media. In the video, Pérez can be seen performing when the camera starts to shake, and screams rip through the music. The club’s large chandelier falls from the ceiling.
Another viral video shows the destroyed nightclub after most of the ceiling had caved in. Debris covers the stage and dance floor, and rescuers can be seen sifting through the rubble.
The mayor of Santo Domingo, Carolina Mejía de Garrigó, expressed her condolences to the families impacted by the devastating incident while describing the situation as a “terrible tragedy”.
Established over 45 years ago, Jet Set is a prominent nightclub in the Dominican Republic. The club’s Monday shows are an iconic part of the city’s live music scene.
