At least 98 people were killed and 150 injured when the roof of Santo Domingo’s famous Jet Set nightclub collapsed early Tuesday morning, turning a night intended for music and celebration into a tragic event, according to officials.
A mainstay of Dominican nightlife, the well-liked location is renowned for holding high-profile events. During a vibrant merengue concert early on Tuesday morning, it was crowded with visitors, including local celebrities, politicians, and athletes, when tragedy struck. Just before one in the morning, the structure collapsed, trapping hundreds of people beneath the debris and concrete.
Popular merengue singer Rubby Pérez was the main act at the performance when the roof abruptly collapsed. His boss attested to the fact that Pérez was one of the victims of the catastrophe. The BBC reports that there are now at least 98 people dead and over 150 injured.
MLB players that passed away
Notable former Major League Baseball players Tony Blanco, a former infielder for the Washington Nationals, and 51-year-old pitcher Octavio Dotel are among the deceased. The Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic stated on X that Dotel passed away from his injuries after being rescued from the wreckage and sent to the hospital.
Dotel played for 13 different Major League Baseball teams during his career, setting a record at the time. From 2000 to 2004, he was with the Houston Astros for the longest period of time.
His 2011 World Series championship with the St. Louis Cardinals was the apex of his career. The Detroit Tigers were his final major league team in 2013. At the height of his career, Dotel was regarded as one of the best bullpen pitchers in the league due to his ability to rack up strikeouts.
Longtime Mets commentator Gary Cohen remarked on Octavio Dotel’s impact during Tuesday afternoon’s Mets-Marlins game, stating, “Everyone who ever met Octavio loved him.”
Dotel’s journey to the major leagues wasn’t a simple one. Among the many personal tragedies he experienced was the death of his father in a robbery. His escape, a means of perseverance in the face of loss, was baseball.
“I can’t accomplish anything if I go to the ballpark and constantly think about him,” Dotel said. “To get what I want, I simply need to keep playing hard.” I believe that my presence is a blessing from God. I’m grateful to be here. My dad’s presence would make it more enjoyable, yet everyone must pass away.
League spokesman Satosky Terrero stated that Tony Blanco, whose full name was Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, a former player for the Washington Nationals, was also among those who unfortunately perished in the collapse.
Continued to hear noises
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and the sister of MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, who also perished in the fall, is another tragic loss that the nation is grieving.
First Lady Raquel Arbaje said Cruz was able to call President Luis Abinader from inside the nightclub at 12:49 a.m. to report that she was trapped when the roof collapsed. Officials confirmed her death at the hospital later, as reported by the Associated Press.
Throughout the day, search and rescue operations went on continuously, according to Juan Manuel Méndez, head of the Center for Emergency Operations.
Méndez stated on April 8 that “we are still clearing debris and looking for people.”
“We’re going to look for people all day long.”
Nearly 12 hours after the collapse, rescue workers continued to remove people from the debris despite the risks. While some firefighters used wooden planks and their bare hands to lift rubble, others used drills to chip through concrete.
In an attempt to find more survivors, Mendez stated, “We’re hearing some sounds.”
footage captured inside the club
The manager of the performing Rubby Pérez, Enrique Paulino, spoke to reporters on the scene while wearing a blood-stained shirt. Shortly before midnight, he disclosed, the concert began, and less than an hour later, the roof collapsed, killing the group’s saxophone.
As singer Rubby Pérez sings, footage from inside the nightclub shows patrons dancing in the rear and others seated at tables close to the stage.
In a another video that was captured on a cell phone and posted on social media, a man near the stage can be seen pointing to the roof and stating, “something fell from the ceiling.” It seems as though Rubby Pérez is responding to the disturbance by looking in the same direction.
The screen suddenly turns black after a loud noise is heard less than 30 seconds later. The voice of a woman then cries, “Dad, what’s happened to you?”
One of Pérez’s bandmates claims that the ceiling collapsed because the place was full. The performer told local reporters, “I thought it was an earthquake,” and that the incident happened “at around 1am.”
We mourn the passing of Octavio Dotel.
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 8, 2025
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy in the Dominican Republic. pic.twitter.com/UZk88QiBoA
A thorough inquiry into the reason of the collapse has been initiated by the authorities. It’s still unknown whether structural warnings had been disregarded or when the building was last examined.
