At least 44 people died when a nightclub’s roof collapsed in the Dominican Republic.
Jet Set’s roof fell just an hour after a concert started in the building in the country’s capital Santo Domingo, crushing many of the attendees. More than 160 were injured.
Blood-soaked survivors described what felt like an earthquake shortly before midnight on Monday.
‘It happened so quickly’, said Enrique Paulino, who manages the merengue singer Rubby Perez. ‘I managed to throw myself into a corner.’
More than 300 people were packed in to see the 69-year-old musician perform. He remains in hospital. His saxophone player died.
It is not yet clear what caused the roof collapse at Jet Set, which caught fire in 2023 after lightning struck its power supply.
Today Jet Set – described as the country’s ‘place of reference’ by Billboard magazine – said the ‘tragedy struck a deep note in the hearts of all of us’.
In a statement, the club said: ‘The loss of life leaves us in a state of profound pain and dismay.
‘In this difficult time, our prayers are with each of the affected families. We share their pain as if it were our own, because we are also in mourning.
‘We are collaborating fully and transparently with the relevant authorities to assist the victims and clarify what happened.’
Rescue teams continue to pull bodies from the rubble, but it is not yet clear how many still trapped inside will survive.
Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the Centre of Emergency Operations, said: ‘We presume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities here will not give up until not a single person remains under that rubble.’
President Luis Abinader wrote on X: ‘We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have followed the case minute by minute since it happened.
‘All relief agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected families.’
More than 8,000km away in Serbia, the country is still grappling with the effects of a train station’s roof collapsing in November.
A six-year-old girl was among the 14 people killed instantly when a concrete awning suddenly fell in the country’s second city of Novi Sad. One more died two weeks later, while a third – a 16-year-old boy – died last month.
The awning had only been built during recent renovations, which were part of lucrative infrastructure deals with China.
A former minister was among those charged in connection with it, and the government has announced an anti-corruption campaign in response.
But it’s sparked massive protests that brought down the government itself.
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