The legendary Jet Set Club in Santo Domingo was full of musicians, professional athletes and government officials when Dust fell into the drinks of the people from the ceiling.
Minutes later, the entire roof collapsed. Concrete slabs killed at least 113 people and caught dozens of others on a dance floor, where hundreds danced to a lively Merengue concert early Tuesday. The authorities said more than 255 people were injured.
The victims include Merengue Icon Rubby Pérez, who had sung to the crowd before the catastrophe. His body was found early Wednesday, said Juan Manuel Méndez, director of emergency operations.
Rescue workers searched for potential survivors more than 24 hours after the collapse.
“As long as you report that there is a missing person, we will be here,” said Méndez.
Rescue teams from Puerto Rico and Israel arrived in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday to help the local authorities in the search.
In the late Tuesday evening, those who were still looking for their family and friends gathered to play a man who played a guitar outside the club when they sang hymns.
So far, only 32 people have identified
So far, only 32 people have been identified in one of the worst disasters to meet the Dominican Republic. Local media reported that those who died are a cardiologist, a state architect, a retired police officer and the brother of the Vice President of the Ministry of Youth.
MLB Pitcher Octavio Dotel and Dominican Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, Satosky Terrero, spokesman for the country’s professional baseball league, was also killed towards The Associated Press.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi and the sister of the seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, alerted President Luis Abincer about the catastrophe. She called him under the ruins, but later died in a hospital.
Dozens of people are dead after a roof collapsed in a night club in the Dominican Republic during a concert early Tuesday. Retters continue to look for victims in the rubble, and the crews still pull out survivors almost 12 hours after the collapse.
Other victims are the saxophonist Luis Solís, who played on stage when the roof fell, several Venezuelan bartenders and an army captain who left four young daughters behind. Grupo popular, a financial service company, said that three of his employees have also died, including the President of the AFP Popular Bank and his wife.
But countless was not identified.
“I was in many hospitals and didn’t find them,” said Deysi Suriel of her friend, 61-year-old Milca Curiel. Suriel lives in North Carolina and vacation in the Dominican Republic.
“There is a lot of pain”
Dozens of hectic relatives crowded at the national institute for forensic pathology in the country and looked for a list of the names of the victim, while others went from hospital to hospital for their relatives and competed by them.
“There is great pain,” said Senator Daniel Rivera, the former Minister of Public Health. “We need a lot of patience.”
Among those who were looking for their relatives were Kimberly Jones, whose sponsor, the 45-year-old artist Osiris Blanc and his friends were missing.
“It was her favorite place, they went there almost every Monday,” said Jones, adding that their niece was also missing.
It was not immediately clear what the roof collapsed or when the Jet Set building was recently inspected.
The club made an explanation in which he worked with the authorities. A spokeswoman for the family who owns the club said The Associated Press that she passed on questions about potential inspections.
In the meantime, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Work referred questions to the mayor’s office. A spokesman for the mayor’s office did not answer a message for a comment.
