More Than 200 Dead After Nightclub Roof Collapse in Dominican Republic: Rescue Operation Ends

The death toll has climbed to 218 after the roof of Jet Set nightclub collapsed during a live performance in Santo Domingo. Rescue efforts have now shifted to recovery, as hopes of finding more survivors fade

According to CNN, the death toll has climbed to 218 after the roof of the Jet Set nightclub collapsed during a live performance in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The incident has now entered a recovery phase, as rescue teams have ended their search for survivors.

Authorities confirmed that 189 people were rescued alive, while no additional survivors have been pulled from the rubble since Tuesday. The tragedy took place around 1 a.m. on April 8, during a concert by renowned merengue artist Rubby Pérez, who is among the confirmed dead.

“Having exhausted all reasonable possibilities of finding more survivors, the operation is now in a different phase, nonetheless sensitive and crucial: the recovery of human bodies with due respect and the dignity that every victim deserves,” said the Emergency Operations Center (COE) in a statement posted on X.

Hundreds of rescue workers worked around the clock for two days, clearing debris from the scene. The Jet Set nightclub, one of the most well-known and upscale venues in the Caribbean, was hosting over 300 attendees the night of the collapse. The venue, built more than 50 years ago, reportedly had a capacity of up to 500 people.

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Mourning and investigation

President Luis Abinader has declared three days of national mourning, and visited the site alongside First Lady Raquel Arbaje to offer condolences to the victims’ families.

Among those who died are two former Major League Baseball players and several high-profile public figures. The country’s Health Minister, Victor Atallah, stated that most of the victims died instantly due to head and chest trauma from falling debris.

Footage captured from above shows a massive hole in the roof, directly over where the audience had gathered. In the aftermath, families crowded field hospitals and local clinics in search of their loved ones.

The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.

[ H/T: CNN ]

[ Photo:  Dominican Today ]