In the early hours of this Tuesday, part of the roof of the popular nightclub Jet Set in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, collapsed, leaving at least 27 people dead and more than a hundred injured, according to preliminary reports from the Emergency Operations Center (COE).
The incident occurred while the renowned Dominican merengue artist Rubby Pérez was performing, who was rescued alive and taken to a hospital, as confirmed by his producer Ivo Terrero. However, one of his musicians lost their life during the incident.
Unfortunately, the number of deceased has continued to rise since the tragic event was announced.
A 39-second video filmed by a witness captured the moments leading up to the collapse. In the footage, the man can be heard describing the atmosphere at the site to someone he was talking to on the phone, right up until the tragedy occurred.
It seems that the roof collapse was preceded by some partial detachments, which led those who were more foresighted to leave the room in time.
The collapse caused scenes of chaos among the attendees, as hundreds of people were enjoying the traditional Monday celebration at the venue.
Authorities have reported that 46 people have been rescued alive and taken to health centers, although it is feared that there may be more victims trapped under the rubble.
The director of the COE, General Juan Manuel Méndez, confirmed that at least 101 people have been transported by ambulance to various hospitals.
However, he warned that the number of injured could be higher, as some units transported several injured individuals on the same trip.
Life testimonies among the rubble
Rescue teams, supported by the Jurón Unit of the National District Fire Department, the Civil Defense, the Ministry of Defense, and the National Emergency System 9-1-1, are working against the clock with thermal cameras and acoustic sensors.
Signs of life have been detected, and some trapped individuals have managed to establish phone communication with their families.
"Inside the nightclub, people can be heard asking for help, so we will continue working until we locate them," Méndez assured the press.
In addition, a support tent was set up for family members, offering psychological assistance services.
Government Reaction
The president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, expressed deep regret over the incident and assured that the government is monitoring the situation minute by minute.
"We deeply mourn the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the case minute by minute since it happened. All rescue agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families," he wrote.
The National Police and the COE do not rule out that the death toll may rise in the coming hours. The collapse of the structure has left an undetermined number of people trapped, which keeps rescue teams and the families of the victims on edge.
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